820 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777. 



enforcement of this order ; for, in addition to the inconvenience 

 of parting with articles provided for family use, their conscien- 

 tious scruples would not permit them to receive the proffered 

 compensation. 



It was not until the middle of October that the enemy had so 

 far succeeded in removing the obstruction in the river between 

 Billingsport and Hog Island, as to afford a narrow and intricate 

 passage through them. In the mean time, the fire from the 

 Pennsylvania shore had not produced all the effect expected from 

 it; and it was perceived that greater exertions would be neces- 

 sary for the reduction of the works than could safely be made 

 in the present relative position of the armies. Howe, therefore, 

 witlidrew his troops from Germantown preparatory to a combined 

 attack by land and water upon forts Mercer and Mifflin. 



In pursuance of his plan for securing the control of the Dela- 

 ware, Howe, on the 22d of October, detached Count Dunop with 

 1200 Hessians, to capture the fort at Red Bank, orders having 

 been issued for a simultaneous attack to be made on Fort Mifflin 

 by water. The out-works at Red Bank were too extensive for 

 the garrison, but to obviate the difficulty, an inner embankment, 

 eight or nine feet high, "boarded and fraized," had been 

 thrown up. The attack was made about four o'clock in the 

 evening upon the outworks, after a summons to surrender had 

 been answered by a reply of defiance. The garrison maintained 

 its position for a time, but upon the near approach of the enemy, 

 fell back behind the inner work. The Hessians, supposing 

 themselves in possession of the fortress, rushed forward in some 

 confusion, when the Americans, from their second, but more se- 

 cure position, poured upon the advancing masses such a destruc- 

 tive fire, that they were forced to retire as rapidly as they had 

 approached. The loss of the Hessians was estimated at 400, 

 including Count Dunop and his second in command, while the 

 whole American loss, in killed and wounded, was only thirty-two 

 men. The garrison had been re-enforced from Fort Mifflin, and 

 was aided by the galleys which flanked the Hessians in their ad- 

 vance and retreat.' 



Early on the same day, several of the enemy's ships passed 

 the lower chevaux-de-frize, and awaited the assault on Red 

 Bank before opening upon the galleys and floating batteries. 

 At the appointed signal the action on the river commenced, part 

 of the manoeuvring of the enemy's ships being intended to draw 

 off the galleys that were aiding in the defence of Red Bank. 

 The ships that came up were the Augusta, a new 64, the Roe- 

 buck, 44, two frigates, the Merlin of 18 guns, and a galley car- 

 rying a 82-pounder. These were driven back by the galleys and 



• Marshall's Life of Washington, i. 174. 



