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Writings of Thomas Paine — Volume 1 (1774-1779): the American Crisis by Thomas Paine
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the Jersey militia, and marched out twice to meet the enemy, on being
informed that they were advancing, though our numbers were greatly
inferior to theirs. Howe, in my little opinion, committed a great
error in generalship in not throwing a body of forces off from Staten
Island through Amboy, by which means he might have seized all our
stores at Brunswick, and intercepted our march into Pennsylvania; but
if we believe the power of hell to be limited, we must likewise
believe that their agents are under some providential control.

I shall not now attempt to give all the particulars of our retreat to
the Delaware; suffice it for the present to say, that both officers
and men, though greatly harassed and fatigued, frequently without
rest, covering, or provision, the inevitable consequences of a long
retreat, bore it with a manly and martial spirit. All their wishes
centred in one, which was, that the country would turn out and help
them to drive the enemy back. Voltaire has remarked that King William
never appeared to full advantage but in difficulties and in action;
the same remark may be made on General Washington, for the character
fits him. There is a natural firmness in some minds which cannot be
unlocked by trifles, but which, when unlocked, discovers a cabinet of
fortitude; and I reckon it among those kind of public blessings,
which we do not immediately see, that God hath blessed him with
uninterrupted health, and given him a mind that can even flourish
upon care.

I shall conclude this paper with some miscellaneous remarks on the
state of our affairs; and shall begin with asking the following
question, Why is it that the enemy have left the New England
provinces, and made these middle ones the seat of war? The answer is
easy: New England is not infested with Tories, and we are. I have
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