ncement, to have been happily
conducted. But a strict adherence to it by those who were entrusted
with the execution of its several parts, was indispensable to its
success.

Major General Stephen, who commanded the right division of the left
wing, was cashiered for misconduct on the retreat, and for
intoxication.

Congress expressed, in decided terms, their approbation both of the
plan of this enterprise, and of the courage with which it was
executed; for which their thanks were given to the general and the
army.[71]

[Footnote 71: On hearing that General Howe had landed at the
head of the Chesapeake, Sir Henry Clinton, for the purpose
of averting those aids which Washington might draw from the
north of the Delaware, entered Jersey at the head of three
thousand men. On the approach of General M'Dougal with a
body of continental troops from Peekskill, and on hearing
that the militia were assembling under General Dickinson, he
returned to New York and Staten Island with the cattle he
had collected, having lost in the expedition only eight men
killed and twice as many wounded.

M'Dougal continued his march towards the Delaware; and the
utmost exertions were made both by Governor Livingston and
General Dickinson to collect the militia for the purpose of
aiding the army in Pennsylvania. The success of their
exertions did not equal their wishes. The militia being of
opinion that there was danger of a second invasion from New
York, and that their services were more necessary at home
than in Pennsylvania, assembled slowly and reluctantly. Five
or six hundred crossed the Delaware at Philadelphia, about
the time Sir William Howe crossed the Schuylkill, and were
employed in the removal of stores. On the approach of the
British army, they were directed to avoid it by moving up
the Frankford road; but the commanding officer, having
separated himself from his corps, was taken by a party of
British horse employed in scouring the country; on which the
regiment dispersed, and returned by different roads to
Jersey. With much labour General Dickinson assembled two
other corps amounting to about nine hundred men, with whom
he was about to cross the Delaware when intelligence was
received of the arrival at New York of a reinforcement from
Europe. He was detained in Jersey for the