It's that evening that men start to straggle in, New Jersey militia from an unexpected skirmish with the British, one that never elevated itself into a full-on battle because both sides were so surprised to run into one another.

A few of them have very important news.

Laurens bursts into Washington's tent. "Some of these men saw him yesterday," he says, not clarifying who 'him' is. "He rallied them, set fire to a few British supply wagons -- or tried to -- and then led the pursuit away from the main body."

"And that area is swamp," says Washington, "so he couldn't move fast."

"So he could still be on his way."