The German Allied Troops in the North American War of Independence, 1776-1783. Translated and abridged from the German ... by J. G. Rosengarten

Front matter

<^nn%tlV$ tj/istarfcat J^ #**♦ 10* THE German Allied Troops IN THE North American War of Independence, 1776-1783. TRANSLATED AND ABRIDGED FROM THE GERMAN OF MAX VON EELKING, K- Captam Saxon-Memingen Army; Member of the Historical Society of New York. BY J. G. ROSENGARTEN. ALBANY, N. Y.: JOEL MUNSELL'S SONS, PUBLISHERS, i893- The German Allies in the American Revolution, i 776-1 783. By MAX VON EELKING, Captain in the Saxon-Meiningen Army, and Corresponding Member of the Historical Society of New York. "SUUM C U/Q US." Translated (and Abridged) from the German. Note. — Published in Hanover, in 1863, in two volumes, of pp. 379 and pp. 271, this book still remains full of interesting details as to the German troops serving in America. Leaving out all that relates to the general history of the Revolution, there is much that is likely to have value for special students of American history, and to them these pages are submitted as a contribution that cannot but serve to give a better idea of the actual facts of the part taken by the German soldiers in the British army, in the struggle for American independence, than can easily be gathered from other sources.

Preface

. It is now just eighty years* since the German troops returned home from the seven years' war beyond the Atlantic, in which they had fought as allies of England against the great American rising. They are known as the German Allied or Subsidiary Troops. Since that long and hard-fought war, the Union, with passing exceptions, has enjoyed the blessings of a long peace. Now a new war is ragiug ; this time the sword is not drawn against a foreign power, but between hitherto sister states — their own flesh and blood. Again Germans are fighting, just as before throwing their weight in the balance, now not for a foreign interest, but for their own. Even if nearly a century has elapsed between the first great war and that now being waged, the careful observer will find much resemblance between the war of that day and the present war.

Let us look, however, at the subject we have in hand. While we find in other campaigns in which German soldiers *The original was published in Hanover in 1863. Preface. 8 have taken part the results gained by them more or less fully described, there is wanting, in the most marked way, the history of the share they took in the war of the American Revolution. There has been plenty of time to fill this void, but hitherto it has not been attempted in any complete form. In the literature of Germany it has appeared only in separate accounts in historical works and periodicals. Even this proportionately brief material is not only small in bulk, but is, for the most part, either of particular portions of the forces engaged, or from ignorance, or by accident, it is erroneous. The ab sence of any complete or impartial story is noteworthy in the present wealth of German history.

Hitherto the archives in which the original documents were preserved have been jealously closed to the world. There is, however, abundance of other material in the journals and correspondence of the principal leaders, of officers and private soldiers, who shared in the war. Most of them wrote with no expectation that their pages would ever be made public, and plainly put down what was seen and what was heard. The value to be ascribed to such material is to be seen in its use in modern works on the history of recent wars. To gather such material has been no light labor. Much was lost, much in family papers Preface. 9 not willingly given to strangers. The reader will see in the following pages what has been obtained in various parts of Germany and from various sources. It has been the aim of the author to give a general view, avoiding repetition, and emphasizing the part — a subordinate one, of course — taken by the German troops, but allowing the German writers to tell their own story, even when it differed from the recognized English and American authorities.

He has sought to protect and restore the good name and credit of German soldiers, ruthlessly attacked on all sides for their share in the American Revolutionary War. Hard indeed was their situation — denied the privilege of fighting for any national cause at home, they were reproached for taking part in a foreign war, although they did so in strict obedience to the orders of their military and civil superiors, at risk of losing health, discipline, and even honor, and it is only right that their deeds_ should speak for them and give the true version, even at this late day, of their share in the events here described. MANUSCRIPT AUTHORITIES. A. Hessian: (i) Journal of Captain v. Miinchhausen, from the time of his appointment as Howe's Adjutant, 18 November, 1776, to 22 May, 1778. (2) Correspondence of Col. v. Heeringen, Capt. Burmeister, and other Hessian officers.

(3) Journal of an expedition under General Clinton to the Southern Colonies, from 18 December, 1779, to 8 August, 1780. (4) Diary of Captain Friedrich v. d. Malsburg, of the v. Ditfurth Regiment, from February, 1776, to 16 November, 1780. (5) Diary of Captain v. Dinklage, of the Guard Regiment, from 14 January, 1776, to 29 May, 1784. (6) Journal of the most noteworthy incidents of the Hereditary Prince Regiment, begun in February, 1776, when it went to America, ended May, 1784, on its return to Marburg, by Regimental Quartermaster Lotheisen. (7) History of the Fusilier Regiment v. Lossberg, in a diary, begun 1776, down to 1783, kept by the Hessian Lieutenant Biel (Rail's Adjutant). (8) Diary of Lieutenant Wiederhold (of Rail's Regiment), afterwards Captain of v. Knyphausen's Regiment, from 7 October, 1776, to 7 December, 1780.

Manuscript Authorities. 12 (9) Diary of the voyage of the 8th Hessian Recruit Transport to America, from 10 April to 28 October, 1782. (10) Journal from the arrival of the French Fleet in Rhode Island, 1779, to 22 May, 1784, by a Hessian officer. (11) Journal of Lieutenant Riiffer, from 1 March, 1776, to 28 December, 1777. (12) Species facti of the surprise and capture of three Hessian Regiments, v. Knyphausen, v. Lossburg and Rail (now Wollwarth), 26 December, 1776. Philadelphia, 19 March, 1778. Schaffer. (13) Species facti of the surprise and capture of Rail's Brigade at Trenton, 26 December, 1776, especially Rail's (now Wollwarth's) Regiment ; by J. Matthaiis (Major). (14) Report of the capture of Rail's Brigade in Trenton, 26 December, 1776. Phila., 20 March, 1778. Baum, Staff Captain, Knyphausen's Regiment.

(15) Reports of Captains of Engineers Pauli and Martin and Lieutenant Biel, on the events at Newport. (16) Report of a Hessian officer of the surprise at Trenton. (17) Letters of Lieut. Henkelmann, of Seitz's Regiment, to relatives at home, and some extracts from his diary. (18) Letters of Adjutant Henel. (19) Letters of Captain Ries, of Lossberg's Regiment. (20) Letters of Sergeant Flockshaar. Manuscript Authorities. 13 (21) Part of a diary of non-commissioned officer Casper Recknagel. (22) Diary of non-commissioned officer Reuber, of Rail's Regiment, from 1 January, 1776, to 29 December, 1783. (23) History of the Yager Battalion, by Capt. Mahlburger. [A few copies only lithographed.] B. Brunswick : (1) Papers left by Lt.-Gen. v. Riedesel at Eisenbach. (2) Journal of the Brunswick Troops, from 22 February, 1776, to 15 January, 1779, kept by Quartermaster-General Gebhardt.

(3) Journal of Col. v. Specht, from the voyage to the capitulation at Saratoga. (4) Correspondence of Major Cleve, Riedesel's first Adjutant, and Captain Tiinderfeld. (5) Journal of Captain Ranzau, from 8 April, 1777, to 29 August, 1778. (6) Journal of Schuler, from 15 May to 20 June, 1776. (7) Journal of the voyage from Portsmouth to Quebec, and from there to the Southern Colonies, and thence of the return to Europe, by C. v. Schuler, known as v. Senden. [The journal begins 23 June, 1776, and ends April, 1781. An extract was printed in 1839, in the "Journal for Art, Science and History of War," vol. 47. Schuler v. Senden died a Prussian General of Division.] (8) Journal of the Field Chaplain Melzheimer. Manuscript Authoritses. 14 (9) Journal of Major Cleve of his imprisonment, 1779. (10) Journal of the Voyage to America and of Three Campaigns there, from 15 May, 1776, to 10 October, 1783, including the return to Wolffenbiittel, by Frederick Julius v. Papet, First Lieutenant of the v. Rhetz Regiment, and, since 20 November, 1777, Brigade Major of the German Troops in Canada. [Two stout volumes.]

(11) Journal of Corporal Scheither. C. Waldeck: (1) Short Description of the Journey and Campaign of the Third Regiment to America, from 20 May, 1776, until its return in 1783, by Carl Philipp Steuernagel, Quartermaster of the Regiment, of Captain Teutzel's Company. (2) Diary of the Third Waldeck Regiment, by Ph. Waldeck, Chaplain. D. Ansbach-Bayreuth : March, route and description of the most remarkable events in America, by John Conral Dohla, of Zell — described to a former companion in arms. [Dohla was a school teacher.] E. Anhalt-Zerbst : History of the Zerbst Regiment in the English service during the American War. [This Ms. gives the history of the Regiment from 1776 to 1793. The part relating to the war in America is from the diary of a member of the regiment who took part in the events it describes.]

The American armies were recruited by the help of liberal promises. Twenty dollars and one hun dred acres of land were guaranteed every private and non-commissioned officer. Recruits could be got only by bounties and pay. The Germans were used to being sent outside their own country to serve under foreign flags, but the money paid for their ser vices went to their sovereigns. Those sent to Amer ica brought home much useful knowledge of actual war, and the Hessians and Brunswickers, who had fought in America, were among the best soldiers in the German army during the wars of the French Revolution. Their operations in America were closely followed at home; newspapers and journals were filled with their letters. A Hessian officer who had served as adjutant with Donop and Knyphausen, wrote afterwards : '* No one found fault with our going into the Brit ish service for pay," and none of the officers or men complained.

There were many volunteers, especially in Hesse, among them v. Ochs, later Gen eral, and in the letters home, from soldiers and offi cers, there was no complaint, but all showed a thoroughly German spirit of discipline wherever they were ordered. When England found its need of allies, it natur ally turned to its old comrades of the Seven Years' War. Hesse Cassel and Brunswick were first approached. George the III. wrote to their princes — the wives were both English princesses — and offered not only a subsidy for their troops, but treaties of alliance and protection, for it was easily to be anticipated that France would side with the rebels and threaten Germany. The troops from Hanover were sent, five battalions, to Gibraltar, relieving English soldiers sent to America. Hesse Hanau and Waldeck joined the other German allies.

Toward the end of 1775, Col. William Faucit, of the Guards, came to Germany to make the Treaties for the allied forces. On January 9, 1776, that with Brunswick was signed, on the 15th that with the Hessian government, and on the 5th of February that with Hanau ; that with Waldeck had been made in London on April 25, 1775. Hesse Cassel agreed to supply fifteen Regiments, each of five Companies, four Grenadier Battalions, two Yager Companies, and some artillery, in all 12,500 men. Brunswick promised a corps of 4,000 men, four Infantry, one Dragoon, Regiments, one Grenadier, and one Light Infantry Battalion. Hesse Hanau promised one In fantry Regiment and some artillery, in all 900 men ; Waldeck, one Regiment 750 strong. The three treaties were printed at Frankfort and Leipsic in 1776, and in the Parliamentary Transac tions, Nos. 17 and 18.

For each man England agreed to pay thirty marks hand money, one-third one month after the execution of the Treaties, the balance within two months. For every man killed, wounded or captured, or made unserviceable by wounds or sickness, a like sum was to be paid, and like provision was made for those lost in sieges or by infectious disease or on shipboard, but for deserters no compensation was to be made. To meet the heavy expenses of so quickly equip ping so large a force, England paid in advance for two months, besides all the transportation from the first day's march. The Brunswick Treaty provides that the subsidy should begin to run from ,the date of its execution at the rate of 64,500 German thalers, as long as the soldiers received pay, and when that ended, it was to be doubled, and this 129,000 thalers should be paid for two years after the return home of the troops.

They were to take an oath of service to the King of England, thus putting them under double allegiance to their own sovereign and to that of Great Britain. Their own princes were to supply equipments and keep up the standard by new re cruits, and were to maintain their legal control over their subjects. Food and clothing were to be sup plied just as to the British army. The forage money paid to the officers was a handsome addition to their regular pay. Gen. v. Riedesel, who was of an eco nomical turn of mind, was said to have saved 15,000 thalers from this source on his return to Brunswick. This was the tenth treaty of the kind that Hesse had made since the seventeenth century. The King of England pledged himself, in case of great loss in any regiment, to equalize its strength as best he could with the others.

With Brunswick and Hesse Cassel he specially agreed to employ their soldiers only in the North American Continent, and not in the un wholesome West Indies. It is not easy to ascertain the exact amounts paid by England to Germany under these treaties, for the details were kept secret, although the public approval by Parliament annually shows that the following were about the amounts thus voted, viz. : Hesse Cassel, eight years, . . . Brunswick, . . . 750,000. Hesse Hanau, " " ... 343,130. Waldeck, " ... 140,000. Ansbach-Bayreuth, seven years, . 282,400. Anhalt-Zerbst, six years, . . . 109,120. As these subsidies were to continue for two years after the close of the war, that would be The bounty for 20,000 men at £6, would be The Artillery received an additional and the annual subsistence cost Altogether, with additional allowances, annually must have been paid to the German princes for their soldiers, out of which, of course, they paid the expense of equipping, keeping their arms, etc.

The Treaty with Hesse Cassel was even better for that prince than that with Brunswick or Hanau, and Cassel received yearly more than it ever got before for the same number of its soldiers. Baron v. Schlieffen made a special visit to London on behalf of Cassel — he was an old soldier, had served in the Seven Years' War in command of Hessian troops, and was Adjutant of the Duke of Brunswick, and was as good in using his pen as with his sword ; his Memoirs have been highly commended by later historians. When he went to London, the only man in the English Ministry he knew was Lord George Germain, who, as Lord Sackville, had been discredited by his conduct in the Seven Years' War. Schlieffen, however, gained such a foothold with the Secretary of State, Lord Suffolk, that he was able to recover for Cassel an old claim for hospital moneys spent in the Seven Years' War.

An offer of an additional sum, as compensation to Cassel for Schlieffen's services in rescuing the great magazine at Osnabruch, and thus helping to win the victory at Minden, was refused, but he secured for himself the honor of maintaining his independence and personal honesty, and for his native country a welcome increase of the growing reserve in its well-stocked treasury. The later debates in the British Parliament often turned on the avarice of the German princes in thus securing the payment of old claims, in addi tion to the liberal amounts paid for the subsidies given by treaty ; but it must be borne in mind that England was in the position of asking for help, and the Germans were not offering it, so that of course the latter were justified in making the best terms they could.

Chapter I

The German Princes, who had promised their help to the King of England, after the execution of the Treaties providing for subsidies, completed the military organizations and prepared them for their long journey. The Elector of Hesse, Frederic II.,* whose arsenals were well filled, and whose troops were always ready, was the most active, and by the end of Febru ary his Regiments were in Cassel, prepared to start. As the departure of the troops depended on the arrival of the transport ships, the time of waiting was used in exercising the soldiers, in reorganiza tion, and in preparing the recruits and the men who had joined after a long leave of absence. In spite of the weather, the men were drilled daily, often in deep snow. Every effort was made to adopt the English system ; the Grenadier companies, which had been distributed among the Musketeer and *[Note I. — The Elector Frederic II., then fifty-six years old, was not unpop ular in his country, which he had enriched by many benevolent institutions and by others for art and science.

He is unjustly reproached with avarice — a charge which belongs to his son and successor. As he gave the largest contingent for the allied army sent across the Atlantic, and derived the greatest pecuniary ben efit, he drew down on himself the most reproaches, which often exceeded his deserts. He was better than his reputation. He died soon after the War, in I785-] Fusilier battalions, were formed in four independent bodies. A Grenadier Regiment was organized of men picked from the different infantry regiments, and as good riflemen were in demand by the English authorities, the Yager battalions were increased. The Regiments, according to the English system, were very weak — each with an average of 633 — and in the reports, etc., the same force is sometimes described as a regiment, sometimes as a battalion ; the propor tion of officers was unusually large.

Each Infantry Regiment had 21 Commissioned Officers, 60 Non-Commissioned Officers, 5 Non-Combatant Officers, 22 Musicians, 525 Men. Each Grenadier Battalion had 16 Commissioned Officers, 44 Non-Commissioned Officers, 1 Non-Combatant Officer, 20 Musicians, 420 Men. Each Yager Company had 4 Commissioned Officers, 12 Non-Commissioned Officers, 1 Non-Combatant Officer, 3 Musicians, 105 Men. Each Artillery Company had 5 Commissioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers 1 Non-Combatant Officer, 3 Musicians, 129 Men. The Hessian Corps, at the outset of the War, had a strength of 12,054 men, besides staff, engineer, supply train and servant men. It consisted of 15 Infantry Regiments, 4 Grenadier Battalions, 2 Yager Companies, 2 Field Artillery Companies, and was organized in two Divisions and four Brigades.

Gen. v. Schlieffen, the Commander-in-Chief, was very earnest in his entreaties to be assigned the com mand, but the Elector chose Lt.-Gen. Philipp v. Heis ter, an old officer who had served with distinction in the Seven Years' War. Owing to want of transportation, only the First Division, under Gen. v. Heister, was sent forward — it consisted of the Guard Regiment, the Prince Charles Regiment, the Hereditary Prince's, Knyp hausen's, Lossberg's, Ditfurth's, Donop's, Triim bach's, Mirbach's, the Grenadier Battalions of Rail, Bloch, Minnigerode, and Linsingen, a Yager Com pany, 138 strong, and a Field Battery, 242 strong. The Elector inspected the Regiments and reviewed them as they marched out in the presence of a large crowd, which cheered them heartily. It was not until February 29th that they finally left, and Rail's Regi ment not until March 6th.

On the ioth of March the First Division marched through Bremen past great numbers of spectators. On March 2ist and 22d, the troops were mustered into the English ser vice by Col. William Faucit, and on the 23d the loading of the transports began, lasting until April 15th. The quarters were very crowded, and each man had a small mattress, a pillow and a woolen coverlet, and every six a wooden spoon and a tin cup. The food consisted of peas and bacon on Sundays, four pounds for six men ; soup, butter and cheese on Mondays ; four pounds meat, three pounds meal, one half pound raisins, one-half pound suet, for pudding. This was repeated on Wednesdays and the rest of the week. Every six men received daily four cans of small beer and a cupful of rum, often increased by an exchange for bread and cheese.

On the 16th, Gen. v. Heister went on board the Commodore's ship " Elizabeth," and owing to the lack of transportation, he was obliged to leave Rail's and Mirbach's regiments, and 154 men of Knyp hausen's, behind. On the 17th the fleet set sail — forty-four vessels under Commodore Parker. On the 26th it reached Portsmouth, where the English troops already on other vessels, gave them a hearty wel come. On the 28th divine service was held — in accordance with the German piety of the time, every soldier had a prayer book in his knapsack, and men and officers were in the habit of daily pious exercises. The English authorities urged the instant departure of the German division, but Heister tried hard to secure delay until all his troops were in hand, but he was obliged to yield. On May 6th, the fleet, under Admiral Hotham, consisting of 150 sail, finally got under way ; the convoy consisted of six men-of war and two cruisers.

There were 12,500 troops on board, of which 7,400 were Hessians. The voyage was long, tedious, stormy and uncom fortable. There was a duel between Lieut. Klein schmidt and Capt. v. d. Lippe, in which the latter fell. On August 17th, the fleet reached Sandy Hook, and found there the rest of the German division, just arrived. Twelve men only were lost on the passage, but many were sick with scorbutic diseases. The Germans were heartily welcomed, and gave glowing descriptions of the harbor of New York and the adjacent country. The first order was to remove all silver from the uniforms, just as the British had already done, to lessen the risk of the American riflemen, whose un erring aim was greatly feared. At the time of the arrival of the German troops, affairs stood about in this position. On the 18th of April, 1775, the first blood had been spilled at Lex ington, followed by armed rising everywhere.

In the North, Gen. Carleton, with a small force, formed the right wing ; he had resisted an attack on Quebec during the winter, and was preparing to drive the Amer icans back. In the South, in Carolina, the left wing was under Clinton, sent to co-operate with Parker's fleet, but did nothing effectual there. Howe, who had received the general command in place of Gage, recalled, was in command of the center, and by orders from England, evacuated Boston, up to that time the only place on the northern coast held by the British. He left March 17th, 1776, and sailed to Halifax, but on receipt of the news of the arrival of fresh forces from Europe, he left Halifax, on June nth, and on the 29th reached Sandy Hook. His plan was to establish himself in or near New York, and to unite all his forces. He went to Staten Island, with about 9,000 men, and there waited the return of Clin ton from the South and the arrival of the force com ing from England.

The line of operations, stretching from Canada to South Carolina, was out of all proportion to the strength at hand, and there was no possibility of any united plan of action or mutual support. The two commanders were brothers. Richard, Lord Howe, the admiral and viscount, the elder, was active, energetic and able, and had gained credit and experience in his service ; he looked with undisguised contempt on the rebels now in arms. Sir William Howe had fought with credit in the old French War, and was one of the ablest and most experienced general officers in the British army ; he was very unlike his brother in manner — much gentler and kinder — but was not as energetic and active ; indeed, showed a carelessness and negligence, even in weighty matters, that were inexcusable. The elder brother was sober and self-contained ; the younger social and pleasure-loving — forgetting his military duty in the excesses of the table and other dissipation.

He had his mistress at his side and his table was open to all. He encouraged others to the same sort of life, and was easily influenced by his boon companions. These qualities made him popu lar — were looked on as chivalric — and even a Hes sian officer said that Gen. Howe was worth more than an army. The British government thought that the two brothers would work in perfect harmony, and took credit for their selection. Gen. Howe, on the arrival of his new forces, set on foot his plan for driving the enemy from Long Island and New York. The Hessians were assigned their part. The Brigade of v. Stirn was ordered to relieve the Thirty-fifth and part of the Fifth English regiments, and take position well forward on the shores of Staaten Island, separated from the enemy's advance posts by a narrow strip of water.

The Brigade was posted along the shore in small detachments, the Guard Regiment at Amboy Ferry ; the camp was placed in two lines, but it had to be moved to the rear, to escape the American riflemen, and the Artil lery under Lieut. Grenke threw a few shot into Am boy to quiet the enemy. The width of the water was a little over three hun dred paces, and the Americans gathered on their side to watch the German soldiers, who were now for the first time in sight. One of the Hessians said that few of the rebels were in uniform ; most of them looked like a mob, hastily gathered together. The arrival of the German allies had spread no little alarm among the Americans. The Germans were greatly feared, and many of the inhabitants had abandoned their homes, flying to New York and leaving in their houses many articles of value.

The soldiers were quartered in these houses and were very coolly received. Orders were given to behave with great propriety, for the hope of reconciliation was still cherished. When the inhabitants found that they were kindly treated, the soldiers were well treated and many sick and wounded were well cared for. The general comfort and prosperity of the country, little the worse for the war that had been waged, was a constant subject of praise among the German troops. Gen. Howe, with 35,000 soldiers, well in hand, out of a total force of 55,000 soldiers, including 16,968 Germans, and 28,000 sailors, decided to drive the enemy from Long Island, where they were entrenched at Brooklyn. Separated by the Narrows from Staaten Island, a mile's width, well occupied by the English Fleet, and from New York by the East River, of about the same width, the Brooklyn Heights commanded three roads — that on the left to Bedford, that in the center to Flatbush, that on the right to Gowan's Bay.

The Heights were strongly held by Washington's best troops, under Gen. Greene, one of his best generals. On the 21st August, the Hessian Grenadiers were transhipped, and brigaded with the Yagers, under Gen. Donop, as an advance. The Americans abandoned the shore, after setting fire to some barns. Lord Cornwallis was detached with the reserve and the advance under Donop and six guns to Flatbush, with orders not to attack if that place was held firmly. Cornwallis took position at Gravesend and sent Do nop forward, and as he moved up, the 300 Riflemen withdrew, followed by a few cannon balls. On the 23d, in the morning, the right wing of the advance was attacked, but when a battery was brought up, the Americans fell back. Another attack was attempted in the afternoon, some of the soldiers pushing into the village and setting fire to some houses ; but a battery soon drove them back.

On the 25th, a strong force, with guns, renewed the attack, but were again repulsed by the Artillery. The Hessian Yagers had a little rest on the 24th and 25th, but were again attacked on the morning of the next day — and after resisting it, when Cornwallis wanted to withdraw them, Donop begged to be allowed to stay and to entrench his position. On the 25th August, Gen. v. Heister and his Hes sians were moved from Staaten to Long Island. Only Lossberg's Brigade, consisting of the Guard Regi ment, that of Prince Charles, Ditfurth's and Trum bach's, with the Fourteenth British Regiment, and the convalescents and recruits, remained. Gen. v. Stirn was assigned the First Brigade — the Hereditary Prince's, Donop's and Mirbach's Regi ments. The troops had moved forward on the middle road to Flatbush, Cornwallis took his position on the right wing, and the line extended from the Narrows to Utrecht and Gravesend.

The Americans held the Heights strongly, their right flank stretching from Brooklyn to the mouth of the Hudson, in front Gowan's Bay, with the left flank on Wallabout Bay. On the 26th, Heister detached Col. v. Heeringen, with 306 men and a battery, as an advanced post for the left wing ; the American riflemen made an attack, but were driven back by the artillery. In the even ing, Clinton led his troops on the road to Bedford, to seize a pass which he thought strongly held. He learned by his own advance — from a captured Amer ican picket — that the road was clear, and sent a battalion of light infantry to hold it. Behind him was the main body of the British force, under Lord Percy; the Second, Third and Fourth Brigades, the Forty second Regiment, and sixteen batteries, and Gen. Howe himself.