battle battle known skirmish occurred near mill new_jersey near present day new_jersey january american revolutionary war british foraging party flanked driven forces composed british wagons supplies action series skirmishes known forage war persisted northern new_jersey months demonstrated militia companies capable putting significant fight background george_washington successful movements army culminated battle princeton january washington faced dilemma caught new_jersey rest british_army new_brunswick new_jersey attempt british outpost new_brunswick exhausted troops washington moved army valley new_jersey place knew strongly fortified winter quarters remaining british troops princeton withdrew new_brunswick battle princeton january significant portion british army advanced new_brunswick west present day new_jersey remained week retreating new_brunswick destroying houses supplies time militia companies mustered assist continental_army movements established area west new_brunswick rivers man land forces following british retreat house outposts garrisoned patriot militia companies support continental_army battle british foraging party men led lieutenant colonel 37th foot left new_brunswick january headed west crossed river unclear exactly bridge leaving rear guard field artillery cover bridge eventually reached mill new_jersey near present day new_jersey miles north near point seized supplies varieties prepared return new_brunswick militia companies north alerted british movement early day marched new_jersey reports arrived activity mill marched place new_jersey militia pennsylvania militia formed brigadier general dispute british action detailed accounts movements apparently divided forces sending force meet british wagon train second moved flank forces rivers water waist deep successfully surprised british wagon train lane near mill reached main road bridge new_brunswick fire struck horses wagon stopped train scattered wagon drivers drove british retreat bridge leaving booty reached bridge rear guard fired shot artillery cover retreat exchange fire river apparent consequence british withdrew aftermath wrote letter colonel january pleasure inform monday men chiefly militia attacked foraging party near consisting men field pieces routed engagement minutes brought horses wagons cattle sheep barrels flour bags things prisoners general washington happy performance militias wrote behaviour reflects highest honour troops raw lead river middle deep gave enemy severe charge supported field pieces gave way left convoy reported taking prisoners british officer expedition reported lieutenant colonel men went foraging party corps attacked rebels occasion disorder drivers left british witness absolutely certain attackers militia sure militia fight way casualty figures extremely variable british casualties killed wounded captured appear low according press accounts contrary claim prisoners taken militia casualties relatively small number continued american british forces winter period historian dubbed forage war revolved british need forage horses american tactics primarily driven new_jersey militia commanders supported washington successful british foraging parties men came attack
Battle of Millstone