28 Journal and Correspondence

C. S. C.

[Morris and others to Hancock.]

Philadelphia Jan^y 5^th 1777
10 o'clock
We have no certainty to this Hour, except the substance of
current reports by various hands. Gen^l Washington drew up
his army and took post on the hills on this side Trenton
Bridge, he caused large fires to be made and kept up. He
had received certain intelligence that Gen^l Howe, with a con-
siderable reinforcement, was on his march from Prince Town
to join the main body at Trenton, he decamped in the middle
of that night, made a forced march, met M^r Howe about
Maidenhead, or Quaker Bridge, gave him battle, put him to
the Rout, and took 500 to 700 prisoners, pushed forward, took
possession of Prince Town at the point of Cannon, with a
number of officers of the 40^th regiment, and this morning we
are told he was still preparing and determined to push on to
Brunswick, where are all the Enemy's valuable stores &c.
That part of the Enemy's army that possessed the part of
Trenton on the other side of the Bridge never discovered
Gen^l W'^s march until they heard the engagement. They then
took possession of all the Heights, and remained under arms
until about 11 o'clock, when they marched off by the Prince
Town Road, in order, as is supposed to get on the other
side of our army, and join there Gen^l Howe. Gen^l Putnam
marched from hence yesterday with about 600 men, 500 follow
to day and more are coming in every hour. We hear various
reports of Gen^l Heath being again on this Side the North
River, and of the New England Militia coming down ag^t N.
York. Rob. Morris
Geel Gune
To M^r Hancock Geo. Walton

[Lowndes to Jenifer.]

Sir. Bladensburg Jan 8^th 1777
I am favoured with yours of the 8^th Instant, and agreable to
what you recommend, I shall pursue such steps as I think
most promising in order to secure the quantity of hemp that
will be sufficient for your cordage you want from me, my
thanks are due for your offer of assistance in case I should
want it, but I flatter myself I have materials that will purchase
the quantity mentioned in your first letter, and further then
that I desire not to go. Speculation when goods run so high
I wish not to meddle with, though should you think it neces-
sary to have a greater quantity than ten tons from me, then
indeed I have doubts of my ability to deposite ready money,
and nothing but ready cash will go down with those folks.