From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 164
General Greene took the responsibility to hold the fort; and when Colonel Morgan received a demand from
the enemy to surrender, he replied: "I shall defend the fort to the last."
After a manly resistance, however, he was forced to surrender; and the fort, with its garrison of twenty-eight
hundred men, and abundant stores, passed into the hands of the enemy. The prisoners were taken to New York
and confined in the notorious British prison-ship, where they suffered long and terribly.
This was a very unfortunate affair for the American cause, and caused the commander-in-chief great anxiety.
He wrote to his brother about it in a gloomy mood, and said:
"In ten days from this date there will not be above two thousand men, if that number, of the fixed, established
regiments on this side of the Hudson River, to oppose Howe's whole army; and very little more on the other,
to secure the eastern Colonies, and the important passes leading through the Highlands to Albany, and the
country about the lakes.... I am wearied almost to death with the retrograde movement of things, and I
solemnly protest that a pecuniary reward of twenty thousand pounds a year would not induce me to undergo
what I do, and, after all, perhaps to lose my character; as it is impossible, under such a variety of distressing
circumstances, to conduct matters agreeably to public expectation."
Washington's command was now at Fort Lee (formerly Fort Constitution). The next movement of the enemy
was designed to hem them in between the Hudson and Hackensack, and capture them. The
commander-in-chief ordered a hasty retreat, the want of horses and wagons making it necessary to abandon a
large quantity of baggage, stores, and provisions, and even the tents and all the cannon except two twelve
pounders. The retreat over the Hackensack was successfully performed, and here Washington ordered Colonel
Greyson to send the following message to General Lee:
"Remove the troops under your command to this side of the North River, and there wait for further orders."
The next day Washington wrote to Lee:
"I am of opinion, and the gentlemen about me concur in it, that the public interest requires your coming over
to this side of the Hudson with the Continental troops."
Not more than three thousand soldiers were with Washington at Hackensack, without intrenching tools, tents,
and necessary supplies. To risk an engagement in these circumstances was hazardous in the extreme, and a
further retreat became inevitable. Leaving three regiments to guard the passages of the Hackensack, and to
serve as covering parties, he withdrew to Newark, on the west bank of the Passaic.
To add to the perils of his situation, the term of enlistment of General Mercer's command was about to expire.
He must have reinforcements, or his entire army would be destroyed. He hurried away Colonel Reed to
Governor Livingston of New Jersey, and General Mifflin to Philadelphia, to implore aid. At the same time he
depended upon General Lee for immediate reinforcements, not doubting that the latter was obeying his orders;
but, to his amazement, a letter from Lee revealed the startling fact that he had not moved from Northcastle.
Washington renewed his orders to Lee to move with all possible despatch and come to his rescue. He said:
"The enemy are pushing on, and part of them have crossed the Passaic. Their plans have not entirely unfolded,
but I shall not be surprised to find that Philadelphia is the object of their movement."
"We cannot make a stand here," said General Greene.
"By no means," answered Washington. "My hope is to make a stand at Brunswick, on the Raritan; or,
certainly, to dispute the passage of the Delaware."