Newsletter 2 1978.pdf - The Grayson Family

Page 243 Page 243
ton that the enemy had commenced their march. Washington immediately
sent orders to General Lee to " move forward and attack the
enemy, unless very powerful reasons prevented," and advised Gcncral
Lee that " the entire army had thrown aside their packs and was
advancing to his support."
The following remarkable statement taken from Lee's defense, is
cited in this connection without comment. '' I had no idea that his
excellency was to move from Englishtown, where I was informed he
was posted ; and that situation appeared to me the best calculated to
suppor't my corps, of any I knew of in that country." In another connection,
he says, that on the march he noticed the hill where the final
stand was madc to be an excellent position. The movement of the
troops was very loosely madc ; was simply putting them on the march,
and General Lee did not in person superintend that mo;rctnent.
Coforrrt Grayson '- received orders about three o'clock, to put Scott's and Varnum's
brigades in readiness $3 march and to pve notlce when they were ready,"
upon reporting to General Lee at Englishto\\ln;--was ordered to advance and
halt three miles from the enemy, gnd send repeated intelligence of their mocemcnts.
At the same time a written paper from Gcneral Washington to General Lee was
laced in his hands directing General Lee to send out six or eight hundred men as
a corps of observation, to give frequent information of the enemy's ~novements and
IJ affaik fAtm in case thy began ftirir march."
"At a distance of two and a half miles from Englishtown, was ordered to march
slow ; shortly after, to advance." This brought Grayson to the bridge over tlie west
ravine; where theJrsf skir~nisA, hereafter mentioned, took place.
Grnerat Scoff " had orders about five o'clock to follow hiaxwell's brigade :-
passed Englishtown ; was ordered to halt ; received an order from one of General
Lee's aids to march in the rear of General Wayne's detachment. About this time
there was a halt of an hour ; marched to the Meeting-house, where there was a
second halt : advanced a mile and then halted, when several pieces of cannon were
fired, and some small arms, in front of the column.
This brought Scott to the west ravine : He continues,--'* Soon after I was ordered
on, and soon took a road to the left and then an old road to the rightwhich brought
us into a field to the left of some of our troops that were formed where there was a
pretty briskfiring of cannon on both sides." This was the location of the third
shirmrsh hereafter mentioned.
Gcntral Afarwcll; "received orders after five o'clock, to put my brigade ir!
readiness to march immediately. Ordered the brigade to be ready to march ; went
and waited on General Lee. He seemed surprised 1 was not marched, and that I
must stay until the last, and fall in the rear. I ordered my brigade to the ground I
understood I was to march by, and found myself to be before General Wayne and
General Scott, and halted my b~igadc to fall in the rear."
(A temporary diversion made by this brigade under General Lee's