Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/587

No. 195] pearl ashes, and various other articles, and, if they please, here is an ample field to employ their shipping, and raise seamen for their Navy.



195. "The Game is pretty near up" (1776) BY GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON

WING to the number of letters I write, the recollection of any particular one is destroyed, but I think my last to you was by Colonel Woodford, from Hackinsac. Since that time, and a little before, our affairs have taken an adverse turn, but not more than was to be expected from the unfortunate measures, which had been adopted for the establishment of our army. The Retreat of the Enemy from the White Plains led me to think, that they would turn their thoughts to the Jerseys, if no farther, and induced me to cross the North River with some of the Troops, in order if possible to oppose them. I expected to have met at least five thousand men of the Flying Camp and militia ; instead of which I found less than one half of that number, and no disposition in the Inhabitants to afford the least aid. This being perfectly well known to the Enemy, they threw over a large body of Troops, which pushed us from place to place, till we were obliged to cross the Delaware with less than three thousand men fit for duty, owing to the dissolution of our force by short Enlistments ; the Enemy's numbers, from the best accounts, exceeding ten or twelve thousand men. . ..

. . . We are in a very disaffected part of the Province ; and, between you and me, I think our affairs are in a very bad situation ; not so much from the apprehension of General Howe's army, as from the defection of New York, Jerseys, and Pennsylvania. . ..

I have no doubt but General Howe will still make an attempt upon