The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

.ET. 46.] LIFE.OF WASHINGTON. 293
British, fall upon their rear, and bring on an engagement. Opinions were various; but nearly all the officers
were opposed to an attack, on account of the superiority
of the enemy in force and discipline. General Lee,
who had been exchanged, and had recently joined the
army, argued vehemently against such a step. Some
of the officers agreed with him; others, who were unwilling to advise a general action, thought that the
enemy should at any rate be harassed in their march,
and that an engagement, though not to be sought,
should not be avoided if circumstances rendered it
expedient.
The news of the evacuation of Philadelphia, which
took place in the morning of the 18th of June, was
received while the subject was still under discussion.
General Arnold, who had not yet entirely recovered
from the wound he received at Saratoga, was ordered
to march with a small detachment into the city, and to
retain, the command there. General Lee and General
Wayne, each at the head of a division, took the road
to Coryell's Ferry, with orders to halt on the first strong
ground after passing the river. Washington followed,
and in six days the whole army had crossed the Delaware, and arrived at Hopewell, five miles from Princeton. Detachments in the mean time had been sent to
impede the enemy's march. Morgan's corps of six
hundred men was ordered to gain their right flank,
Maxwell's brigade to hang on their left, and General
Scott, with fifteen hundred chosen troops, to gall their
left flank and rear. To these were joined the New
Jersey militia under General Dickinson, and a party of
volunteers from Pennsylvania commanded by General
Cadwalader.
After the British had crossed the river and landed at
Gloucester Point, they marched by the way of Hadar X