The detachment under your command is to march to Springfield in New Jersey by two Routes. The left Column with which you will go is to be composed of the Light Troops and York Regiments (if Courtlands should get up in time) and four light Feild pieces with the Baggage of these Corps. The right Column is to consist of the park of Artillery— O’dnance Stores—The Quarter Masters and Commissary’s Stores—The Baggage of the Staff—The Cloathing—Boats and other things—covered by Colonel Olneys Regt and the Corps of Sappers and Miners.

The left Column will march on the

25th—within three miles of Paramus.

26th two Miles below Acquaquenack Bridge.

27th to Springfeild.

The Right Column will march the same day three miles beyond Sufferens.

26th 5 miles beyond Pompton on the Road to the two Bridges at the Fork of Passaic.

27th Back of the Mountain to Chatham. In these positions the whole will halt till further Orders.

The Jersey Troops and Hazens Regt to be put in condition to march the moment you arrive at Springfeild.

When the march is to commence from Springfeild the following will be the Route and distances.

To Bound Brook

Rocky Hill

Trenton—

And when our destination is no longer a secret you will send forward an Officer of activity and resource to Trenton to arrange matters for passing the covered and such other Waggons as the Quarter Master General shall think necessary over the River, as also the Artillery and such of the Ordnance Stores as Genl Knox or the Officer commanding it may chuse to send to the Head of Elk by Land—The troops—common Baggage and other things are to go by Water, if the means of transportation can be provided, but as this is scarcely to be expected, a due proportion of what is provided must be allotted to the French Army.

The Troops, Baggage and Stores which go by Water are not to halt at Philada but proceed immediately to Christiana Bridge or as near to it as circumstances will admit, nor is there to be a moments unnecessary delay of any thing that moves by land to the Head of Elk. The success of our enterprise depends upon the celerity of our movements—delay therefore may be ruinous to it.

I do not hesitate in giving it as my opinion that every Horse and Ox should be swam over the Delaware. A few Boats above and below the place they are made to enter the River, to give them a proper direction, will remove all difficulty and greatly facilitate the passage across.

Given at King’s Ferry this 24th of August 1781.