To George Washington from Colonel John Cadwalader, 28 December 1776
From Colonel John Cadwalader
Bordenton [N.J.] 28th Decr 1776
Sir
We arrived here about 1 o’Clock—the advanced party about ten1—I have sent Horse-men to reconnoitre & from every Information the Enemy left Allen Town about 8 o’Clock this Morng—If I had been happy enough to have cross’d at Dunks’s Ferry we should have compleatly destroyed the Army in this Quarter—I am informed that the Hessians went off in the utmost confusion—I am sorry some of the Troops have marched up to Kirkbridge ⟨mutilated⟩ as it is impossible to get over ⟨mutilated⟩ the Comg Officer at Bristol to ⟨mutilated⟩ I have about 1800 men, & Col: Penrose informs me that he is advancing with about 500 men.2
We shall pursue with my Troops to-morrow before day—about 500 go this Evg to Cross-wix—The Enemy are much encumbered with Baggage & Cattle—I hope to fall on their Rear. I am, Sir, your most obt Sert
John Cadwalader
ALS (mutilated), DLC:GW. A small portion of the text has been torn off the right side of the manuscript.
1. For accounts of the march of Cadwalader’s division from Burlington to Bordentown on this date, see Thomas Rodney to Caesar Rodney, 30 Dec., in , 150–52; , 25–27; 268–69; 397–98; 276–77; and 259–61.
2. Joseph Penrose (1737–1824) served as lieutenant colonel of the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment from 3 Jan. to 25 Oct. 1776 when he was appointed colonel of the newly created 10th Pennsylvania Regiment. Penrose apparently crossed the Delaware to New Jersey about this time with a large detachment of recruits from his still incomplete regiment (see GW to Horatio Gates, 1 Mar. 1777, NHi: Gates Papers). A dispute over seniority in rank prompted Penrose to resign his commission on 7 Mar. 1777.