I have the honor to transmit you herewith a letter from the Honb Mr Ellery who desires me to give you an account of the battle of the 3 inst. which he supposes to have been fought at Trenton.(1) Common fame had been too busy and magnified the transactions of that day by private intelligence

   The Genls original design was to have surprized Brunswick also but his troops were quite exhausted with hunger, thirst and fatigue; many of them had not slept, eat or drank for 36 hours, numbers of them were almost naked and in short they were not in a condition to undertake any new exploit or to wait an attack from an enemy superior in number. Less fatigued and better provided the Genl therefore quitted Princeton, took up some bridges to impede the enemy and went aside to Somerset Court house where they rested that night. He is since got to Morris town where I hope he is greatly reinforced by Genls Heath and McDougal. Genl Howe is collecting his forces together and their armies are again become very interesting. The enemies loss at Princeton was not less than 600. At Trenton on the 26th 918, and at various times consequent of the action of the 26 inst-300. Since the action of Princeton several more parties and stragglers have been brought in by Militia so that upon the whole their loss in killed, wounded and prisoners must be considerably more than 2000 In N Jersey and I hope to hear soon of further success. My time being much taken up in public business you will excuse me for not being more particular and I have the honor to be, Sir, Your honor's most obedient servant, Robert Morris.