To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 25 June 1778
From Brigadier General William Maxwell
Hights Town [N.J., 25 June 1778] 9 oclock P.M.
Sir
My Troops is all got into Quarters and I have Just now received a letter from Major Bloomfield of my Brigade who I sent to bring me crtain Intiligence Viz. he says he was at Mr Edwd Taylors in upper Freehold he dates at 7 P.M.1
He was within ¼ of a mile of their light Horse they on one hill and he on another the Enemy had Pitched their Tents at his first going there he now ashures me that they have struck their ten[t]s and left the light Horse to make up fires while the others is gone off Doctor Witherspoon Junr2 has been on their right, Flank all day Confirms what the other wrotes but thinks that the moving of the rear might bee a faint as he came down from the Front he saw no⟨thing⟩ there He says they are advenced from Allen Town 12 miles on the road to Munmoth Court house that is their Front I am with in 6 miles of them I hope to be along side of them tolerable early to morrow. I have a smal party on the Enemys rear & two Capts. and a Major on their right and rear who says the Dezertion that way is Emence Major Bloomfield says their rear to day marched in much disorder and left a number of their Cattle on the road I emajin they must have put a number of Men in their waggons as the day was immencely hott I find the Enemys Rout is not so much in my rear as I at first thought I am your Excellency’s Most obedt Humle servt
Wm Maxwell
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Edward Taylor (1712–1783), a merchant and substantial landowner, lived at Middletown, about thirteen miles northeast of Monmouth Court House in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Maxwell also addressed and forwarded to GW a copy of a letter from Col. Samuel Forman of the 2d Regiment of Monmouth County, N.J., militia to Maj. Gen. Philemon Dickinson. The letter was written at “Hoopers Tavern Wedy [24 June] 11 Oclock” and reads: “The Enemy entered Allentown 9, Oclock, another Division crossed at Walls Mill I expect their rout will be thro’ Imlays town—I will send the horsemen I have on the roads to Cranberry &C. to give the earliest intelligence. I am at present dismounted, expect to be mounted again in about 2 hours if this man & horse are not intercepted—they will cross the Enemies road at Hidestown” (DLC:GW).
2. John Witherspoon, Jr. (1757–1796), was the son of congressional delegate and College of New Jersey at Princeton president John Witherspoon (1723–1794).