battle bound brook battle bound brook april surprise attack conducted british forces continental_army outpost bound brook new_jersey american revolutionary war british objective capturing entire garrison met prisoners taken american commander major general left great abandoning papers personal effects late evening april thousand british troops command lieutenant general marched british stronghold new_brunswick detachment reached positions surrounding outpost battle began near morning battle man garrison escaped route american reinforcements arrived afternoon british plundered outpost began return march new_brunswick background following battles princeton december january continental_army major general george_washington entered winter quarters new_jersey british german forces lieutenant general settled winter quarters new_york_city northeastern new_jersey winter months guerrilla war sorts went american militia companies continental_army support harassed british german outposts ambushed foraging raiding expeditions forward bases operations bound brook located new_brunswick major british camp new_jersey post responsible patrolling bridges likely british moves main camp february outpost consisted men command major general reduced militia mid march troops remained 8th company 4th independent companies northeastern pennsylvania claimed connecticut lincoln expressed concern exposed position noting units position render assistance post case attacked keeping wagons ready case departure needed lieutenant general lord command british forces new_jersey ongoing organized action outpost according captain asked draft plan attack february plan executed necessitated night april plan action battle overall command british troops marched new_brunswick multi surprise attack right flank command major general consisted corps detachment british light column advanced opposite new_brunswick left river companies light infantry went right aiming cut main road continental_army camp center command colonel consisted battalions left commanded consisted battalions british light infantry 1st battalion detachment light column advanced right bank aiming gain control bridge directly bound brook took longer route ford river cut possibility retreat direction vanguard grant column engaged american south unaware supposed drove nearly main outpost cannons located sunrise nearly surrounded timely arrival von column river attack column prompted americans begin abandoning post surprise nearly complete pennsylvania artillery company manning severely numerous killed captured colonel reported general lincoln retired profoundly naked lincoln papers taken british plan marred early involving late arrival companies sent cut road americans escaped route british captured cannons ammunition supplies looted returned new_brunswick later morning aftermath continental_army response immediate washington sent large force major general british left time arrived sent detachment harass rear guard detachment caught british near landing killed captured general howe reported americans killed captured general lincoln reported men killed wounded howe claimed deaths seven wounded british washington reported enemy lost post clock day people took possession army losses worth mentioning report killed captured loss field cannons report washington admitted capture cannons officers men general reported wife house day washington concerned attack early start campaign season worried troops place deal major british movements weeks later major activity americans learned enemy field june washington recognized difficult place defend withdrew garrison moved army new entrenched camp near north protected second ranges troops stationed near princeton washington monitored british movements sides continued skirmish sides engaged intelligence gathering trying determine strength intentions june howe marched significant force men new_brunswick far somerset apparently attempt draw washington hills washington aware howe left army heavy baggage refused howe abruptly retreated june washington troops chase moved hills week later howe tried spring trap washington detachments cut american retreat hills effort repulsed battle short hills failure howe embarked army transports set sail chesapeake_bay intending philadelphia south battle site marked signs plaques
Battle of Bound Brook