Sir

his retreat. Gen. Grant marched out upon the Frankfort road, and from thence crossed over through the old York and White-marsh roads; entered the road that led to Bacon Hill, about two miles in the rear of the marquis. Henry Clinton, at the same time sent out another detachment to engage the marquis in front. Gen. Grant having obtained his first object, felt himself sure of his prey, and advanced directly upon the marquis, without securing the Matron Ford, upon the Schuylkill; but the marquis, having learnt the movements of the enemy, filed off his detachment, with such a masterly movement, that he gained the Matron-Ford, (distant one mile,) and crossed over before the enemy were prepared to push their attack, and thus eluded the enemy, and saved his detach ment from total ruin. The loss of this detachment would have greatly distressed the American army, and changed all the future operations of the campaign.-Gen. Grant, alarmed at some heavy firing in the American camp, retreated in his turn, and made a hasty movement back to Philadelphia.

On the 4th of June, the Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Eden, and Governor Johnstone arrived in the Trident from England, as commissioners to restore peace between GreatBritain and America. On the 9th Sir Henry Clinton requested of General Washington a passport for their Secretary, Dr. Ferguson, to bear their dispatches to Congress, which being refused, they were forwarded in the usual form. On the 13th they were received, on the 16th they were examined, and on the 17th the president was directed to return the following reply.

"I have received the letter from your excellencies of the 9th inst. with the enclosures, and laid them before Congress. Nothing but an earnest desire to spare the further effusion of human blood, could have induced Con

gress to read a paper containing expressions so disrespectful to his most christian majesty, the good and great ally of these states, or to consider propositions so derogatory to the honour of an independent nation.

"The acts of the British Parliament, the commission from your sovereign, and your letter, suppose the people of these states to be subjects of the crown of Great-Britain, and are founded on the idea of dependence, which is utterly inadmissible. I am further directed to inform 'your excellencies, that Congress are inclined to peace, notwithstanding the urgent claims from which this war originated, and the savage manner in which it has been conducted. They will be therefore ready to enter upon the consideration of a treaty of peace, and commerce, not inconsistent with treaties already subsisting, when the king of Great-Britain shall demonstrate a sincere disposition for that purpose. The only solid proof of this disposition will be, an explicit acknowledgment of the independence of these states, or the withdrawing his fleets and armies.

"I have the honour to be, your

excellencies most obedient

and humble servant."

The movements of France, as before noticed, gave alarm in England, and caused the minister to send out orders by Mr. Eden, for Sir Henry Clinton to retire with the British army, from Philadelphia to New-York, as soon as possible, and he had actually commenced his operations before the letter, as above, could have reached him.

On the 18th of June, the whole British army evacuated Philadelphia, crossed the Delaware, and moved on to Haddonfield.

General Washington, apprised of this movement, detached General Maxwell, with his brigade, to harass the

enemy, and impede his march. The next day General Washington, finding by the return of the troops that his army was about 11,000 strong, fit for duty, consulted his officers in written questions, upon the plan of operations, to be adopted in pursuing the enemy.

General Lee, who had been exchanged and joined the army, was now present to give his advice in council. General Mifflin had been long absent by permission, and had now joined the army; but was not consulted, because he had avoided the duties of the winter's campaign.

The answers were almost unanimous-"to harass the enemy at all points; but to avoid the hazard of a general battle." General Washington crossed the Delaware the next day with his army, and moved forward in pursuit of the enemy, and at the same time detached Colonel Morgan, with 600 rifle-men, to support General Maxwell.

The weather was extremely warm, and the armies moved slowly. On the 24th, Gen. Washington reached Princeton, where he made the following statement to the officers of his army.

"The army of the enemy is between 9 and 10,000 rank and file; the American army is 10,684 rank and file, beside the advance brigade under Gen. Maxwell, (about 1200,) and about 1200 militia." The general then proposed the following question-" Will it be advisable to hazard a general action ?" The answer was-" Not advisable; but a detachment of 1500 to be immediately sent to act as occasion may require, on the enemy's left flank, and rear, in conjunction with the other continental troops, and militia, already hanging about them, and the main body to preserve a relative situation, to act as circumstances may require. Signed, Lee, Sterling, Green, Fayette, Steuben, Poor, Paterson, Woodward, Scott, Portail, Knox." Gen. Scott was detached accordingly.

Gen. Gates had arrived at Fishkill about the middle of May, and was now ready to co-operate with Gen. Washington if required; Gen. Washington considered the pass through the Highlands, as an object of the first importance, and directed draughts of the neighbouring militia to be marched to the support of Gen. Gates, to guard that pass. Gen. Gates, at the same time moved forward his army to White Plains, to give an alarm in New-York, and thus make a diversion on that side; which was highly approved.

On the 21st, Gen. Washington moved on to Kingston, and there learning that Sir Henry Clinton had moved toward Monmouth, he resolved to attack his rear, and force him to an action; accordingly his excellency detached Brigadier Gen. Wayne, with 1000 chosen troops, to reinforce Gen. Maxwell's advance guard, and selected the Marquis La Fayette, to advance, and take command of the whole, (Gen. Lee having declined the command).

On the night of the 25th, Gen. Washington moved for ward his army from Kingston, and arrived at Cranbury, early the next morning, where they were detained by storms through the 26th, and of course the marquis was ordered to check his pursuit, and file off to the left, towards Englishtown, which he accomplished on the 27th. This movement of the American commander led the British general to anticipate his views, and change his order of march, and post the grenadiers, light-infantry, and chasseurs, as his rear guard; and at the same time he disposed of his baggage so as to be covered by the advance column, under the command of Gen. Kniphausen ; this, when collected, made a procession of about 12 miles in extent. This led Gen. Washington to augment his advance guard.

Gen. Lee began to feel the mortification which he had brought upon himself, by refusing the command of the advance guard, and now solicited the appointment, to which Gen. Washington objected; but detached Gen. Lee, with two brigades to join the marquis, which gave him the command of course. Gen. Washington moved forward at the same time, to support the whole. The right of the enemy was harassed by Gen. Morgan's corps, and the left by Gen. Dickinson's Jersey militia; but the main army under Sir Henry, were strongly encamped near Monmouth meeting-house, on the 27th. Gen. Washington saw the favourable moment that now offered of bringing Sir Henry to immediate action, before he should have gained the heights of Middletown, (twelve miles in advance,) and accordingly ordered Gen. Lee to be in readiness to commence the attack, upon the shortest notice.

On the morning of the 28th, at break of day, Gen. Kniphausen moved forward the advance column of the British army, and at 8 o'clock Sir Henry followed with the main body, the flower of the army being posted in the rear.

Gen. Washington wrote Gen. Lee at one in the morning, with general directions for commencing the attack, and he made his dispositions accordingly, with the troops attached to the command of Gen. Dickinson, and Col. Morgan; also the troops under the command of Gen. Granger, consisting of the brigades of Gens. Scott and Varnum, and at day light these troops were all in motion. From 5 to 7 o'clock they all had commenced their march for Monmouth; Gen. Washington put his whole army in motion at the same time, having learnt from Gen. Dickinson that the front of the enemy had commenced their march. Gen. Washington at the same time, sent orders to Gen. Lee to advance and commence the attack, "unless there should be powerful reasons to the contrary," and assured him that the army were