At length, it being found impossible to bring on a general engagement, the army retired by the North River, to the heights of Fordham; and on the 16th of November, the Fifth supported the storming party in the capture of Fort Washington. A few days afterwards the regiment was detached across the North River against Fort Lee, and on the flight of the American troops, it was stationed a short time at English Neighbourhood: but was soon called upon to take an active part in the reduction of New Jersey; and in the early part of January, 1777, it was quartered at Maidenhead.
The Fifth passed the remainder of the winter in the island of Jersey. "The weather was particularly severe; the duty unremitting and hard; the enemy watchful; and provisions and forage were not obtained without repeated skirmishes. Nevertheless the soldiers endured these hardships with a fortitude and a perseverance that acquired them infinite honour[35]." The campaign being opened in the early part of June, 1777, the regiment took part in several manœuvres, designed to bring on a general engagement, but the enemy kept in the mountain fastnesses, by which he succeeded in defeating the designs of the British commander; and on the 30th of June the troops embarked from the Jerseys and proceeded to Staten Island.
An expedition to Pennsylvania having been resolved on, the Fifth formed part of the force ordered for this service, and, having embarked at Sandy Hook on the 5th July, sailed to Chesapeak Bay, thence proceeding up the Elk River, landed at Elk Ferry on the 25th of August, and afterwards advanced on Philadelphia: at the same time the enemy took up a position at Brandywine Creek, to oppose the advance. But on the 11th of September the enemy's out-posts were driven in and the position attacked. The FIFTH formed part of the force, which advanced to Chad's Ford in the centre of the enemy's line, forced the passage in gallant style, carried the batteries and intrenchments with fixed bayonets, and captured five pieces of cannon and a howitzer. The regiment encamped during the night on the scene of conflict; its only casualties being Ensign Andrews, 1 serjeant, and 12 men wounded.
This success was followed by the capture of Philadelphia: at the same time the army occupied a position near Germantown, and the Fifth had its post in the right wing of the line. The troops at the head of the town were attacked by the enemy in force at daybreak on the morning of the 4th of October, when the Fifth was ordered forward to their aid. The enemy had already gained some advantage, and the Fortieth regiment, which had thrown itself into a stone building, was surrounded by an American brigade, when the Fifth and Fifty-fifth regiments, advancing from the right, opened their fire with good effect, and being seconded by several other corps from the centre and left, drove back the enemy and pursued them through some woody grounds and strong enclosures with signal bravery. The Fifth lost on this occasion, 1 drummer and 9 men killed; also Lieutenant-Colonel Walcott, Captain Charlton, Ensign Thomas, Ensign Stuart, 5 serjeants, and 37 men wounded: Lieutenant-Colonel Walcott died of his wounds six weeks afterwards.
On the 18th of October the army quitted Germantown and encamped in the immediate vicinity of Philadelphia, until after the capture of two forts on the river. In the mean time the enemy formed a strong camp at White Marsh, fourteen miles from Philadelphia; and in the early part of December the Fifth took part in several operations and skirmishes designed to bring on a general engagement; but the enemy remaining behind his trenches and abbatis de bois, the regiment returned to Philadelphia on the 8th of that month. After the retreat of the King's troops, the enemy removed to Valley Forge, where he built huts and passed the winter in the woods, while the British lay in comfortable quarters in the capital of Pennsylvania, where the want of strict discipline during the period of a temporary repose produced several evil consequences, particularly the estrangement of many persons previously in the interest of the royal cause.
1778
Before the commencement of active operations in 1778, the King of France had concluded a treaty with, and agreed to aid, the Americans, which so completely changed the nature of the contest, that the evacuation of Philadelphia was resolved upon, and the Fifth had to take part in the difficult service of retreating through a wild and woody country intersected by rivers, and abounding in narrow and ragged passes. The army accordingly crossed the Delawar on the 18th of June, and directing its march along the eastern bank of that river, afterwards proceeded through the Jerseys, while the enemy hovered near the rear and menaced an attack in force. No action of importance, however, occurred until the 28th of June, when, as the last division descended from the heights above Freehold in New Jersey, the enemy appeared in the rear, and on both flanks, and some sharp fighting took place. At this time the Fifth was in advance, but it was recalled to take part in the action, and the enemy was eventually repulsed. The regiment had Captain Gore of the grenadier company and several men killed on this occasion.
After the action the army continued its march, and having crossed the channel to Sandy Hook, in the beginning of July, embarked from thence for New York; from whence the Fifth advanced to a post beyond the town.
In September, part of the regiment was detached on an expedition to Little Egg Harbour in New Jersey—a noted rendezvous for privateers. This detachment, consisting of 300 men of the Fifth and New Jersey Volunteers, commanded by Captain Ferguson, embarked in transports towards the end of September, and, on arriving at the harbour, went on board small vessels which, with several row-galleys, proceeded twenty miles up the river, to Chesnut Neck, where the troops landed under cover of the fire from the galleys, and by a spirited attack, routed the enemy's force assembled to oppose the descent, and chased them into the woods. After returning from the pursuit, the troops destroyed the village, with several storehouses, and armed vessels:—having only sustained the trifling loss of one man of the Fifth, wounded. A night excursion was afterwards made ten miles farther up the river, when the troops, surprising some companies of the enemy in their quarters, made a dreadful slaughter with the bayonet, and reduced the houses to ashes, with the loss of only two men of the Fifth killed, and two wounded. "It is but justice to inform you," observes the commanding officer in his despatch, "that the officers and men, both British and Provincials, behaved on this occasion in a manner to do themselves honour. To the conduct and spirit of Captain Cox, Lieutenant Littleton, and Ensign Cotter, of the Fifth regiment, and of Captain Peter Campbell of the Third Jersey Volunteers, this little enterprise owes much of its success[36]."
Immediately after the return of this detachment, the regiment was ordered to form part of an expedition against the French West India Islands, and embarking on this service under the command of its Lieutenant-Colonel (afterwards Sir William) Medows, sailed from Sandy Hook on the 3rd of November.