The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 1. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England; to which is added a Sketch of Paine by William CobbettConway, Moncure Daniel
Religion
The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 1. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England; to which is added a Sketch of Paine by William Cobbett
Conway, Moncure Daniel
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809
"I staid in Camp two days after the Germantown action, and lest any ill
impression should get among the Garrisons at Mud Island and Red Bank,
and the Vessels and Gallies stationed there, I crossed over to the
Jersies at Trenton and went down to those places. I laid the first night
on board the Champion Continental Galley, who was stationed off the
mouth of Schuylkill. The Enemy threw up a two Gun Battery on the point
of the river's mouth opposite the Pest House. The next morning was a
thick fog, and as soon as it cleared away, and we became visible to each
other, they opened on the Galley, who returned the fire. The Commodore
made a signal to bring the Galley under the Jersey shore, as she was
not a match for the Battery, nor the Battery a sufficient Object for the
Galley. One Shot went thro' the fore sail, wch. was all. At noon I went
with Col. [Christopher] Greene, who commanded at Red Bank, over to fort
Mifflin (Mud Island). The Enemy opened that day 2 two-gun Batteries, and
a Mortar Battery, on the fort. They threw about 30 Shells into it that
afternoon, without doing any damage; the ground being damp and spongy,
not above five or six burst; not a man was killed or wounded. I came
away in the evening, laid on board the Galley, and the next day came to
Col. Kirkbride's [Borden-town N. J.]; staid a few days, and came again
to Camp. An Expedition was on foot the evening I got there in which I
went as Aid de Camp to Genl. Greene, having a Volunteer Commission for
that purpose. The Occasion was--a Party of the Enemy, about 1500, lay
over the Schuylkill at Grey's ferry. Genl. McDougall with his Division
was sent to attack them; and Sullivan & Greene with their Divisions were
to favor the enterprise by a feint on the City, down the German-town
road. They set off about nine at night, and halted at day break, between
German Town and the City, the advanced Party at the three Miles Run. As
I knew the ground I went with two light horse to discover the Enemy's
Picket, but the dress of the light horse being white made them, I
thought, too visible, as it was then twilight; on which I left them
with my horse, and went on foot, till I distinctly saw the Picket at
Mr. Dickerson's place,--which is the nearest I have been to Philadelphia
since Sepr., except once at Coopers ferry, as I went to the forts. Genl.
Sullivan was at Dr. Redman's house, and McDougall's beginning the attack
was to be the Signal for moving down to the City. But the Enemy either
on the approach of McDougall, or on information of it, called in their
Party, and the Expedition was frustrated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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