had left his camp at Skibback Creek, and about two
o'clock this morning we received news of his approach.
Lieutenant-colonel von Wurmb immediately started
with the Jäger Corps, reported what was going on to
General Knyphausen, and occupied the bridge leading
over the Visihigging (Wissahickon) Creek, near
Van Doeren's house. We presently heard firing on
the right wing, and about half-past three the Jäger
Corps was attacked by four thousand men, with four
six-pounders. So the corps was forced to leave the
bridge, but took position on the hill opposite, and
defended this post with its rifles, against the repeated
attempts of the enemy to force it. The enemy's four
cannon played constantly on the chasseurs, while our
three-pounders could not reach the enemy.
Meanwhile the firing became general, and very strong on
the right wing; until about nine o'clock Lieutenant-general
von Knyphausen sent us word that the enemy's
left wing was beaten. Hereupon Lieutenant-colonel
von Wurmb attacked the bridge again, and drove back
the enemy both from there and from the opposite
height, under a heavy fire. As the attack had to be
made through a long defile, the enemy had time to
retire. We, therefore, found only twenty dead, and as
the chasseurs were already much fatigued, and were
not supported, and as they only numbered three
hundred men, no further pursuit was made.
“In the centre of the army the enemy had fallen on the light infantry and driven it back. Lieutenant-colonel Musgrave, with the Fortieth regiment, threw himself into a stone house, where the enemy stopped to attack him. They might otherwise have fallen