Antony Wayne letter to George Washington, 22 July 1780

Totowa, 22 July, 1780.

Dear General, In pursuance of the plan, which your Excellency was pleased to adopt, the first and second Pennsylvania brigades, with four pieces of artillery belonging to Colonel Proctor's regiment, and Colonel Moylan's dragoons, took up their line of march on the 20th, at three o'clock, P. M., and arrived, a little in the rear of New Bridge, at nine in the evening. We moved again at one in the morning, in order to occupy the ground in the vicinity of Fort Lee and the Landing opposite King's Bridge, by the dawn of the day; and, agreeably to the inclosed order, we advanced towards Bull's Ferry, — General Irvine, with part of his brigade, along the summit of the mountain, and the first brigade, under Colonel Humpton, with the artillery and Colonel Moylan's horse, on the common road. About ten o'clock, part of the first brigade had reached that place. Colonel Moylan, with the horse, and a detachment of infantry, remained at the fork of the road leading to Paulus Hook and Bergen, to receive the enemy, if they attempted any thing from that quarter.

On reconnoitring the refugee post, near Bull's Ferry, we found it to consist of a block-house, surrounded by an abatis and stockade to the perpendicular rocks next to the North River, with a kind of ditch, or parapet, serving as a covered way. By this time we could discover the enemy in motion on York Island, which began to open a prospect of our plan taking full effect. General Irvine was directed to halt in a position from which he could move to any point where the enemy should attempt to land, either in the vicinity of this post or Fort Lee, where the sixth and seventh regiments were previously concealed, with orders to wait the landing of the enemy, and then, at the point of the bayonet, to dispute the pass in the gorge of the mountain, at every expense of blood, until supported by General Irvine, and the remainder of the troops.

The first regiment was posted in a hollow way, on the north side of the block-house, and the tenth in another hollow on the south, with orders to keep up a constant fire into the portholes, to favor the advance of the artillery, which was covered by the second regiment. When the field-pieces arrived at the medium distance of sixty yards, they commenced a constant fire, which was returned by the enemy, and continued without intermission from eleven until after twelve o'clock. By that time we had expresses that the enemy were embarking their troops from Voluntine's Hill, at Phillips's Landing. We also saw many vessels and boats moving up with troops from New York, which made it necessary to relinquish a lesser for a much greater object; that is, drawing the enemy over towards the posts already mentioned, and deciding the fortune of the day in the defiles, through which they must pass before they could gain possession of the strong grounds.

In the interim we found that our artillery had made but little impression, although well and gallantly served, the metal not being of sufficient weight to traverse the logs of the block-house ; but, when the troops understood that they were to be drawn off, such was the enthusiastic bravery of all ranks of officers and men, that the first regiment, no longer capable of restraint, rather than leave a post in the rear, rushed with impetuosity over the ahatis, and advanced to the stockades, from wliich they were with difficulty withdrawn, although they had no means of forcing an entry. The contagion spread to the second; but, by very great efforts of the officers of both regiments, they were at last restrained, not without the loss of some gallant officers wounded and some brave men killed. Happy it was that the ground would not admit of the further advance of the tenth regiment, and that the situation of General Irvine's brigade prevented them from experiencing a loss proportioned to those immediately engaged (as the same gallant spirit pervaded the whole), which might he a means of frustrating our main object, by incumbering us with too many wounded.

The artillery was, therefore, drawn off, and forwarded towards the wished-for point of action. The killed and wounded were all moved away, except three, that lay dead under the stockades. During this period. Colonel Moylan's horse drove the cattle, &c., from Bergen up towards the Liberty Pole, whilst a detachment of infantry destroyed the sloops and wood-boats at the landing, in which were taken a Captain and mate, with two sailors. Some others were killed whilst attempting to escape by swimming. Having thus effected part of our plan, we pushed forward to oppose the troops from Valentine's Hill that we expected to land at the nearest point to New Bridge. If effected, we were determined to drive them back, or to cut our way through; but in this project we were disappointed; the enemy thought proper to remain in a less hostile position than that of the Jersey shore. We therefore passed the New Bridge, and, by easy degrees, returned to this place about an hour ago.

Inclosed is a copy of the orders of the 20th, together with a return of the killed and wounded, sixty-four in number, among whom are Lieutenants Hammond and Crawford, of the first, and Lieutenant Dehart of the second, all very worthy officers; the latter, mortally wounded.

I cannot attempt to discriminate between officers, regiments, or corps, who, with equal opportunity, would have acted with equal fortitude. Should my conduct, and that of the troops under my command, meet your Excellency's approbation, it will much alleviate the pain I experience in not having it in my power to carry The whole of the plan into execution, which was only prevented by the most malicious fortune. I have the honor to be, with sincere esteem, your Excellency's

Most obedient and very humble servant,

Anthony Wayne.