You Are Standing Where an Enemy Marched

You Are Standing Where an Enemy Marched. . , Led by Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen, the 2nd Division of the British Army marched here, Saturday, June 20, 1778. , It was a moving city, 12,000 men, women, a few children and hundreds of vehicles including supply wagons, ammunition wagons, artillery pieces and blacksmiths' forges. Besides combat personnel, travelling north were the staffs of the lieutenant general, adjutant general, quartermaster, judge advocate, hospital and engineer. , On orders, the British Army left Philadelphia and marched for New York. , The 2nd division was marching to meet the 1st Division in Mount Holly and from there travel to New York. The French had entered the war, forcing the British to abandon Philadelphia. Loyalist refugees, most soldiers' wives, the army's siege artillery, tents and officers' chests sailed for New York, but not enough shipping was available to transport the rest of the army. It would walk. , The army crossed the Delaware River June 15-18 and regrouped in Haddonfield on the 18th. The 1st division marched June 18-19, taking an easterly course through Evesham to screen the baggage heavy 2nd Division from attack. Almost immediately, the front of the 1st Division was harassed by New Jersey Continentals and militia. , Seven miles and twelve hours later, the ponderous column camped in Moorestown. They were rude and greedy visitors. A soldier tried to kiss Richard Smith's niece, and others plundered. Anything that could be eaten or drunk disappeared. Officers took horses, hay, and grain. Soldiers cut down orchards to build huts and burned thousands of fence rails in campfires. , Edward French lost 2 horses, 8 cattle, 9 pigs, 80 chickens, 9 geese, 4 tons of hay, 1300 fence rails, timber and fruit trees and a field of flax.