VII. To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 23 June 1780
VII
From Brigadier General Anthony Wayne
Chatham [N.J.] June 23rd 1780 8. OClock P.M.
Dear General
You have heard that the Enemy—after burning Spring-field—are retired to their former post on Elizabeth town point—their Number (from every Judicial Observation) did not exceed four thousand, they brought out three days provision & upwards of twenty pieces of Artillery.
I have not yet seen Genl Greene—but from very good Intelligence two Batts. of Grenadrs—& two of Light Infantry together with all the Other troops lately arrived from Charles-town (except the Legion) Embarked last evening, but had not sailed,1 may they not wait the return of those under Genl Knyphausen who ma[r]ch out this morning, & proceed in Conjunction up the North river, in full confidence that thes mornings Manoeuvre has drawn your Excellency’s attention to this point—I shall therefore move parallel with the River2 along New Ark mountain3 towards Crain town Gap,4 as soon as it is Light—unless the Situation of the Enemy or your Excellency’s or Genl Green’s orders renders that movement Improper. Interim I am Your Most Obt & very Hume Sert
Anty Wayne
ALS, DLC:GW. Wayne noted on the cover, which he also signed: “⅌ Dragoon who is to pass.”
1. The British grenadier battalions and the light infantry battalions did embark on 22 June with the other troops that British general Henry Clinton had brought with him from South Carolina. The Queen’s Rangers, not the British Legion, remained with Knyphausen’s corps. Clinton had left the British Legion with the army in South Carolina.
2. Wayne is referring to the Passaic River.
3. Wayne is referring to the mountains north of Springfield and the Short Hills. See the second general orders for 7 June (Document V under the Battle of Connecticut Farms, 7–8 June).
4. Cranetown (now Montclair), N.J., about ten miles northeast of Chatham, was located at the eastern side of the northern reaches of First Watchung Mountain along the road from Second River, N.J., to Horseneck Bridge on the Passaic River. The road passed through Crane’s Gap in First Watchung Mountain due west of Cranetown. The gap is now in Bloomfield Township, Essex County.