To George Washington from Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 24 July 1776
From Brigadier General Hugh Mercer
Perth Amboy [N.J.] 24th July 1776
Sir,
Inclosd is a Return of the Troops In this Colony1—two Battalions joind yesterday—We are told of numbers being on the Way from Philadelphia—in a few days the Harvest will be secured when Genl Livingstone will have it in his power to call in a considerable body of militia to take post along the Jersey Shore—And these Troops may be employd in such other Service as you judge proper—Proper persons are employed to examine & secure all the Craft—of which I shall transmit a Return as soon as possible—The Returns of the Troops are not so accurate as I could wish—the number of Rank & file may however be supposed tolerably exact—making some Allowance for the Sick, of which I have been able to procure distinct lists—of the Troops who joined yesterday the 4th Battalion Twenty of the Men had no Muskets, they were furnishd with Pikes about 12 feet long2—The Enemy have reinforced their Guards on this part of the Island—three Battalions appeared on the point opposite this Place yesterday morning—with four Peices of feild Artillery—probably this Arises from their perceiving our force daylie encreasing here—I have the honour to be Sir Your most obt St
Hugh Mercer
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. See “A General Return of the Pennsylvania Forces in New-Jersey,” this date, in , 5th ser., 1:557. This return shows that Mercer’s command consisted of nine battalions of Pennsylvania infantry, a company of Philadelphia artillery, and two companies of New Jersey artillery and that it had a total strength of 3,698 rank and file, 295 noncommissioned officers, 18 staff officers, and 262 commissioned officers. For Mercer’s subsequent correction of these figures, see his letter to GW of 25 July and note 1.
2. The 4th Battalion of Philadelphia Associators, according to Mercer’s return of this date, contained 280 rank and file, 39 noncommissioned officers, 2 staff officers, and 34 commissioned officers (ibid.).