I40 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



undiscovered by an American sentinel on the bridge. They were so near 

 that they might have easily killed him, but a boy was sent to warn him 

 to run for his life. He did so and no more sentinels were posted there 

 afterwards, " a matter of some consequence," says Simcoe, " to the poor 

 people of Philadelphia, as they were not prevented from getting their 

 flour ground at Frankfort Mills." 



Towards the end of February the Queen's Rangers and 42nd Regi- 

 ment crossed the Delaware and marched to Iladdonfield to intercept a 

 convoy of cattle which General Wayne was taking to Washington's army 

 at Valley Forge. Wayne got his convoy to a safe place before their ar- 

 rival, but Simcoe was detached with his Rangers to Timber Creek, where 

 he captured several militiamen, a quantity of stores, a number of boats 

 and one hundred and fifty barrels of tar which were sent to the fleet. 

 He then w^ent to Egg Harbour, where he captured a quantity of rum, 

 which was destroyed, and some cattle. The Rangers then returned and 

 Wayne's troops gathered in force to follow. The march back from Had- 

 donfield was performed in an extremely bitter storm of cold sleet, and 

 the night, which was extremely cold, was passed without a fire. At dawn 

 next day, Capt. Kerr was detached with fifty of the 42nd and his com- 

 pany of Rangers to a place three miles and a half distant to escort some 

 wagons of forage which were to be brought in. Lieut. Wickham, with 

 ten Hussars, patrolled in his front towards the enemy, which were but 

 a few miles off in force. Word was sent to Kerr, who got off his de- 

 tachment in safety, and Wickham did his part so well that he escorted 

 the enemy to the very outposts. They were at once attacked by the 

 Rangers and 42nd Regiment and driven back, both infantry and cavalry ; 

 the lattei- were under Pulaski, whose horse was shot as he retreated. Col. 

 Sterling, of the British army, who commanded the detachment, made a 

 most flattering report of the conduct of the Rangers on this occasion to 

 the Commander-in-chief. 



In March the Queen's Rangers, with the 27tli and 46tli Regiments 

 and New Jersey Volunteers, went down the Delaware and landed at the 

 mouth of the Aloes Creek to forage. At Hancock's and Quintin's bridges 

 on this creek, were posted large bodies of American militia behind breast- 

 works. Col. Mawhood, who commanded the detachment, masked these 

 bridges and foraged in their rear. The officer who commanded these 

 troops in front of Quintin's bridge, which consisted of seventy of the 

 27th Regiment, sent word that the enemy were in great force there and 

 acted as if they meant to pass over the bridge when he quitted it, in 

 which event he would be in great danger. Mawhood marched with the 

 Queen's Rangers to his assistance, l^hey got near the bridge without 

 being perceived by the enemy, and halted in the wood. A beautiful trap 



