troying the bridge there. We accordingly marched
back to the bridge, one-half on one side, the remainder on the
other, for its defence, never taking off our accoutrements that
night.

On the 3d, Lord Cornwallis, hearing the fate of Princeton, returned
to it with his whole force, but found the rebels had abandoned it,
upon which he immediately marched back to Brunswick, arriving at
break of day on the 4th. I then received orders to return to
Sparkstown (Rahway?). Washington marched his army to Morristown and
Springfield. At about the time I arrived at Sparkstown, a report
was spread that the rebels had some designs upon Elizabethtown and
Sparkstown. The whole regiment was jaded to death. Unpleasant this!
Before day notice was brought to me by a patrol that he had heard
some firing towards Elizabethtown, about seven miles off. I
immediately jumped out of bed and directed my drums to beat to
arms, as nothing else would have roused my men, they were so tired.
Soon after this an express brought me positive orders to march
immediately to Perth Amboy, with all my baggage. At between six and
seven the rebels fired at some of my men that were quartered at two
miles distance. I had before appointed a subaltern's guard for the
protection of my baggage. This duty unluckily fell upon the
lieutenant of my company, which left it without an officer, the
ensign being sick at New York. I immediately directed my
lieutenant, who was a volunteer on this occasion, to march with his
guard, that was then formed, to the spot where the firing was,
while I made all the haste I could to follow him with the
battalion.

The lieutenant came up with them and fired upwards of twelve
rounds, when, the rebels perceiving the battalion on the march, ran
off as fast as they could. Had I pursued them I should perhaps have
given a good account of them.

The company baggage-wagon was, however, carried off by the Americans,
driver and all. The garrison got to Perth Amboy that night.
Elizabethtown was evacuated at the same time. The narrative goes on to
say:

The only posts we now possess in the Jerseys are Paulus Hook, Perth
Amboy, Raritan Landing, and Brunswick. Happy had it been if at
first we had fixed on no other posts in this province....
Washington's success in this affair of the sur