The British vanguard reached Stony Brook just as the Americans disappeared up the road, after destruction of the bridge. Cornwallis halted, to bring up artillery. Washington, however, had already reached Kingston, three miles beyond Princeton, and had crossed Millstone River. Here, a council was held as to future action. British fugitives in the direction of Brunswick had, most assuredly, warned the garrison of its danger. At this moment, the sound of cannon at Stony Brook showed that Cornwallis was pressing forward with despatch. The rear-guard left at Stony Brook was not yet in sight; but the entire army was put in marching order, and General Greene led the advance up the Millstone. As soon as the rear-guard joined, the British not appearing, the bridge was destroyed, and the army moved through woods, thickets, and improvised openings, under the lead of well-posted scouts, for the hilly country to the northward. When Cornwallis reached the Millstone, he had another bridge to build. A few horsemen toward Brunswick were all that indicated the presence or whereabouts of Washington’s army. He pushed his men by a forced march, to save Brunswick, and _fight Washington_. He did indeed save Brunswick; but Washington and his army were resting in a strong position near Pluckemin, beyond his reach. The American soldiers were foot-sore, unshod, weary and hungry. There had not been time to distribute rations, after breaking camp at Trenton. More than one-half of the troops had only just arrived with Cadwallader from Bordentown, when the night march began. The imagination falters and cannot conceive the experiences of these faithful men, so many of whom instead of returning immediately home after New Years day, were voluntarily serving beyond their enlistment, at the simple request of their heroic Commander-in-Chief. On the fifth of January, Washington sent his report to Congress, and despatches to others elsewhere in command. Two of these despatches are to be noticed. He ordered Putnam, then at Philadelphia: “Give out your strength twice as great as it is. Keep out spies. Put horsemen in the dress of the country, and keep them going backwards and forwards for that purpose. Act with great circumspection, so as not to meet with a surprise.” He ordered General Heath, then on the Hudson, “to collect boats, for the contingency of the detail of a part of his forces to New Jersey”; and also instructed him, that “it had been determined in council that he should move down toward New York with a considerable force, as if with a sudden design upon that city.”