Page:The Hessians and the other German auxiliaries of Great Britain in the revolutionary war.djvu/223

 Cornwallis entered Philadelphia at the head of two English and two Hessian battalions of grenadiers, and proceeded to fortify the town. The main army en- camped at Germantown. The Hessians here formed the left wing, with the chasseurs in advance on the Lancaster road.

On the 3d of October, 1777, about noon, Captain Ewald was visited by a man (“by no means a Tory,” says he), whose property he had, on a previous occasion, protected from pillage. On going away the American said to him: “My friend, be on your guard to-night and to-morrow.” Ewald took the hint, and reported the remark to his colonel, who passed it on to headquarters. The generals took no notice of it; but we shall see from the following account that the chasseurs were ready for the attack.”

“October 4th. It was probably the fact that General Howe had sent many detachments to Philadelphia and into Jersey, to besiege Mud Island and occupy the city, and especially the fact that he had himself received reinforcements, which moved General Washington to attack the royal army. With this intention he