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Letter to John Page, October 11, 1777 |
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TRANSCRIPT GLC 496.97
George Washington. Letter signed: Williamsburg, to John Page, 1777 Oct. 11. 2 p.
Head Q[uarte]rs. 25 miles from Philad[elphia] Octo[be]r 11: 1777.
D[ea]r Sir
Your favor of the 27th I received yesterday afternoon. In respect to public matters, I wrote you on the 2[n]d Inst, and referred you to my Letter of a prior date to Gen[era]l Nelson. I have now to inform you, that on the morning of the 4th we made a general attack upon the Enemy, who lay encamped in and near German Town. The action lasted two Hours & Forty minutes, during which, we drove them several times, and every appearance promised a favourable, & a happy day. It is with pain, I am constrained to add; that after this, and at a moment when Victory was ready to decide in our favor our Troops retreated & left the Feild, [sic] which they had gained by a brave & spirited conduct, without being forced to the measure by the Enemy’s arms. I can only assign one reason for their retreat. Unfortunately, the day was overcast by a dark & heavy fog, which prevented our Columns from discovering each others movements, and from improving the advantages, which they had separately obtained. Had it not been for this circumstance, I am fully persuaded, the Enemy would have sustained a lot. *?* Our loss, upon the *?* was pretty considerable having had several Officers & men killed & wounded, and others taken, who by means of the fog were separated from the Columns to which they belonged. Gen[era]l Nash of North Carolina was among the wounded, and died since. I cannot ascertain the Enemy’s loss – but the concurring Associates of persons, who have left Philadelphia [inserted: in the Action] since and those of Deserters make it very [?] – from Fifteen to Two Thousand five Hundred. From every information Gen[era]l Aguone was slain & it is the common repost, that two other Gen[era]l Officers were wounded – and mortally. Our Troops are in good spirits, and I hope on a future session [?] we shall be more fortunate.
Cap[tai]n Rowland is now home. He is to make some Experiments today on the subject you mention, and I shall be ready to pay him every attention his ingenuity may morish.
I am Dear Sir
With great esteem & respect
Y[ou]r Most Obed[ient] Serv[an]t
Go: Washington
(On Public Service.)
The Hon[ora]ble John Page, Esqr.
[?]
Go: Washington
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