In June, 1777,
Sir William Howe tried to outgeneral
Washington in
New Jersey, but failed, and was compelled to retreat.
Washington held
Howe firmly in check at and near
New Brunswick, on the
Raritan; and on June 20 the former, with his army at
Middlebrook, learned that his antagonist was preparing to fall back to
Amboy.
Hoping to cut off his rearguard,
Washington ordered (June 21)
Maxwell to lie between
New Brunswick and
Amboy, and
Sullivan to join
Greene near the former place, while the main body should rest within supporting distance.
These orders failed of execution On the morning of the 22d the column of Germans, under
De Heister, began its march towards
Amboy.
The corps of Cornwallis moved more slowly, for it had to cross the
Raritan over a narrow bridge, near the end of which stood
Howe, on high ground, watching the movements
Greene had a battery of three guns on a hill, but too far distant to be effective When more than one-half of Cornwallis's column had passed the bridge, his pickets were fiercely attacked by
Morgan with his riflemen, and were driven back upon the main column.
Howe instantly put himself at the head of the two nearest regiments to meet the attack, when a sharp skirmish for half an hour occurred The British artillery, having been brought to bear on
Morgan's corps, swept the woods with grape-shot and caused the riflemen to retreat.
Between fifty and 100 of the
British were killed or wounded The rest of their march to
Amboy was unobstructed
