488 Journal and Correspondence

C.S.C.

[W. Harrison to Jenifer ?]

George Town, Kent County
28^th Nov. 1776.
Hon^ble Sir.
I had the pleasure before I left our American Camp, which
was on the 19^th Inst, to receive a line from you, a favor which
I am extreamely sorry I cou'd not before this acknowledge.
At the time I received it I cou'd not procure the necessary
materials for writing to you. Ink and paper being then not to be
had, on any condition, and since that time I have been endeav-
ouring to get to Annapolis where I expected to have had the
satisfaction of conversing with you on the situation of our
Army &c; but I have been unexpectedly disappointed on that
head, as I have not been able to lay my hands on Captⁿ Veazy's
papers which concern the public; they made my business to
Maryland, they wou'd have made my principal business to
Annapolis, cou'd I have received them in time from Veazy's
father who, thro' mistake has got them. I wrote for them
immediately on coming down and Colonel Veazy wrote me
in return that I should have them as soon as he receiv'd them
from Apoquimini, where they were with his son's baggage,
however, as the time for which I have leave of absence is
nearly out I must hasten back, tho' with the prospect of
returning immediately, when I hope I shall get the papers and
wait on the Council with them.
The occurrencies which we experienced before the 9^th
Instant from the date of my last to you, I make no doubt you

have been well inform'd of, the principal one I need only

mention to you, which was the battle at the White Plains. In
this affair, as in too many more of a similar nature, our
Generals show'd not equal judgment to that of the Enemy.
We were badly disposed to receive the attack of the Enemy's
small arms, and unfortunately much exposed to their Artillery,
which flank'd us so heavily as to render the post tenable but
a short time. The matter was ended by a confused and pre-
cipitate retreat on our part with the loss of 90 men killed and
wounded including in the number 4 officers, Capt^ns Scott &
Bracco killed, Lieut. Walters and Goldsmith wounded, of the
above number 46 of our Regiment. I forgot to say that
Colonel Smallwood was wounded slightly.
Since the engagement of the White Plains you hear we
have been unfortunate enough to loose Fort Washington,
a capital stroke against us in my opinion as we shall soon
find it very difficult to keep up a communication between the
Northern and Southern Provinces, had we been able to hold the
fort, during the winter we certainly should have been able to