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.

APPENDIX.] BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN. 465
further to march than the right, had not arrived, I was obliged
to form General Wayne's division on the east of the road to attack the enemy's right. I then directed General Conway to draw
off such part of his brigade as was formed in the road, and in front
of our right, and to fall into my rear and file off to the right to
flank my division; but, the morning being too dark to discover the
enemy's movements, and no evidence being given of General Armstrong's arrival, I was obliged to send a regiment from Wayne's, and
another from my own division, to keep the enemy from turning
our right. I also detached Colonel Moylan's regiment of lighthorse to watch their motions in that quarter.
" This being done, my division were ordered to advance; which
they did with such resolution, that the enemy's light infantry
were soon compelled to leave the field, and with it their encampment. They however made a stand at every fence, wall, and
ditch they passed, which were numerous. We were compelled to
remove every fence, as we passed, which delayed us much in the
pursuit. We were soon after met by the left wing of the British
army, when a severe conflict ensued; but, our men being ordered
to march up with shouldered arms, they obeyed without hesitation,
and the enemy retired. I then detached my aid-de-camp, Major
Morris, to inform his Excellency, who was in the main road, that
the enemy's left wing had given way, and to desire him to order
General Wayne to advance against their right. His Excellency
immediately detached part of the residue on my right, and part
on the left of the road, and directed Wayne's division to advance,
which they did with great bravery and rapidity.
" At Chew's House, a mile and a half from where the attack
began, Wayne's division came abreast with mine, and passed Chew's
House, while mine were advancing on the other side of the main
road. Though the enemy were routed, yet they took advantage
of every yard, house, and hedge, in their retreat, which caused an
incessant fire through the whole pursuit. At this time, which was
near an hour and a quarter after the attack began, General Stephen's division fell in with Wayne's on our left, and, soon after,
the firing from General Greene's was heard still farther to the
left. The left wing of our army was delayed much by General
Greene's being obliged to countermarch one of his divisions, before
he could begin the attack, as he found the enemy were in a
situation very different from what we had before been told. The
enemy had thrown a large body of troops into Chew's House,
which caused Maxwell's brigade to halt there with some artillery
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