forage war forage war partisan campaign consisting numerous small skirmishes took place new_jersey american revolutionary war january march following battles princeton british continental_army troops entered winter quarters early january continental_army regulars militia companies new_jersey pennsylvania engaged numerous scouting operations british german troops new_jersey british troops wanted fresh provisions consume required fresh forage draft animals horses general george_washington ordered systematic removal supplies areas easily accessible british companies american militia troops harassed british german acquire provisions operations small cases elaborate involving troops american operations successful british casualties new_jersey including battles princeton exceeded entire campaign new_york background august british army began campaign gain control new_york_city defended george_washington continental_army months general quickly gained control new_york pushing washington new_jersey chased washington south philadelphia washington retreated pennsylvania taking boats miles direction howe ordered army winter quarters establishing chain outposts new_jersey hudson_river new_brunswick occupation new_jersey british german troops caused friction local communities led rise patriot militia early mid december militia companies british patrols leading incidents like ambush leader killed increasing level tension british german quarters night december washington crossed delaware surprised outpost following morning weeks went win battles leading british retreat northern new_jersey disposition armies general washington established headquarters separated coast series low ridges established forward outposts east south ridges served defensive potential british incursions hills launch points raids course january february washington continental_army regulars washington incentives men periods ran large number militia new_jersey new_york pennsylvania bolstered forces played significant role winter british army initially deployed posts far north new garrison numbering concentrated new_brunswick sizable contingent farther north militia pressure january led general withdraw northern troops shores hudson resulting concentration troops overflowed available housing entirely abandoned residents troops living aboard ships anchored nearby cramped quarters led increase camp related illnesses winter morale low area heavily plundered american retreat fall little way local provisions men largely rations salt pork draft animals required fresh fodder sent raiding expeditions tactics early winter washington sent detachments troops systematically remove remaining provisions livestock convenient access british general sent small foraging raiding parties january met larger formations numbering american militia companies continental_army support led occasion significant casualties early example brigadier general mustered militia drove british foraging expedition january washington gave commanders wide latitude act issuing commands constantly enemy aggressive tactics early successes depended successful intelligence british commander reported met force notwithstanding orders given hours troops moved supply convoys bringing provisions outside state large garrison new_brunswick immune american attacks roads offered opportunities raiding difficulties led british commanders change tactics attempting lure militia units traps involving larger numbers british regulars entirely successful militia continental commanders including continental_army general superior knowledge geography set elaborate traps encounter late february british colonel thinking flanked party new_jersey militia suddenly found advance force flanked larger force driven americans appeared ultimately inflicting casualties elite vanguard badly encounter british force repulsed organized attack weeks later ongoing tensions took toll british captain company german essentially light infantry lines observed men stay dressed day night horses constantly army gradually destroyed foraging forage provided new_york sufficient army needs consequence british forced provide supplies europe great cost risk royal_navy regiment infantry companies foot troop british light stationed new_jersey winter january british cavalry patrol ambushed militia near town killed second wounded day infantry emerged town small escort light instructions clear country led captain strong patrol attacked near springfield new_jersey militia soldiers heard distant gunfire hours later british horsemen came foot soldiers shot entire party captured militia ordered pull garrison left january troops evacuated militia attacked rear guard confused retreat americans captured soldiers baggage trains regiments food supplies chatham connecticut farms january colonel captured wagons chatham new_jersey scott brigade composed 4th 5th 6th virginia regiments connecticut farms january commanded colonel attacked german americans killed enemy soldier captured following day americans set large body british new_jersey killing enemy soldiers wounding american casualties given actions battle brigadier general new_jersey militia scored brilliant success january near mill militia pennsylvania crossed stream fought pitched battle british regulars cannons british lost casualties prisoners wagons horses cattle sheep americans admitted losses men afterward british refused believe beaten militia january british regiments near inflicted losses seven killed wounded suffering men wounded drake farm february brigadier general sir 1st set clever trap sent party drake farm near scott 5th virginia tried small party rushed large force action battalions light infantry appeared supported artillery pieces instead fleeing launched vicious attack momentarily broke battalion intense cannon fire american attack stopped soldiers fought british fell americans admitted casualties claiming killed british wounding action marred ugly incident lieutenant wounded americans abandoned tactical withdrawal frustrated british fell seven helpless men musket slaughtered americans recovered bodies infuriated brigadier general exchanged series letters denied responsibility incident february lieutenant colonel sent reinforced brigade destroy rebel forces catch set battalion light infantry plus formation consisted 10th foot 37th foot 38th foot recently transferred rhode_island garrison near new_jersey found group militia livestock covered larger body americans waiting nearby hill british officer sent company wide flanking maneuver prepared launch assault fired ambush routed loss men moment sent superior force forward force american force included 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 8th pennsylvania regiments surprised men way reached americans lost killed wounded claimed inflicted casualties admitted losing killed wounded missing casualty estimates historian compiled list describes incomplete consisting actions occurred january march documented british german casualties numbered number events include casualty reports combined losses princeton british lost men new_jersey campaign new_york_city fischer estimate american casualties historians compiled casualty estimates fischer notes relatively official reports american militia continental_army unit strengths time period survived ending military campaigns began shape april general punctuated winter skirmishes attack continental_army outpost bound brook april nearly captured commander americans british scattered militia met resistance 8th british captured pound guns men killed americans bulk lincoln force got away general washington moved army winter quarters forward position late better react british moves general howe prepared philadelphia campaign moved large portion army mid june apparently attempt draw washington position failed howe withdrew army embarked ships bound chesapeake_bay northern coastal new_jersey continued site raiding british forces occupied new_york_city rest war
Forage War