To George Washington from Colonel Daniel Morgan, 23 December 1777
From Colonel Daniel Morgan
23d Decr 1777
Sr
And honest looking Quaker just Now Came to me and informd me that he was up and saw the number of the enemy that is now out, he thinks of the light infantry thare was about a Thousand with four field peces, he thinks there is more of the battalions out then has been before, thay ware going out from four oclock yesterday morning, till eleven,1 We are reinforced by fifteen or six teen detachment every one seperate Commands General Potter Cant do any more for them than find them gardes, I am going out with what I have off duty and shall give my advice but from thair orders Can take no command even if we ware engag’d. I am your most obedient and Very Hble sert
Danl Morgan
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. British officer Archibald Robertson’s journal entry for 22 Dec. describes the British troop movements of that date: “In the morning Sir William Howe with 24 Battalions cross’d the Schuylkill at Grey’s Ferry and took a Position from thence extending beyond Derby to cover the Waggons Foraging, also the small craft that loaded at Tinicum Island” ( , 162). According to Hessian officer Johann Ewald’s journal entry for the same date, the force included “three jäger companies with half of the mounted jägers, two battalions of light infantry, the English and Hessian grenadiers, several 6–pounders and howitzers, four troops of light dragoons, and the Anspach Brigade” ( , 111).