He witnessed too the joy with which they returned after the detachment had crossed the Schuylkill.] Thus surrounded with danger, Lafayette took with promptitude and decision the only course which could preserve him.

He instantly put his troops in motion, and passed over at Matron's ford, which was rather nearer to General Grant, than to himself, without being intercepted by that officer, or sustaining a greater loss than nine men.
General Grant, who reached the ground lately occupied by Lafayette soon after it was abandoned, followed his rear, and appeared at the ford just after the Americans had crossed it; but, finding them advantageously posted, did not choose to attack them; and the whole army returned to Philadelphia, having effected nothing.
He did not escape censure for having allowed the great advantage he had acquired, to slip through his hands unused.

He might with the utmost certainty have reached Matron's ford before the Marquis, and have cut off the only retreat which remained for him.

But the same skill and address were not displayed in executing this plan as in forming it.[5] [Footnote 5: It has been said that his troops were excessively fatigued by a march of upwards of twenty miles, and that he waited, confident that the Marquis could not escape him, for information that Gray had reached his position.] In the statement of this affair made by General Lafayette, he represents himself to have advanced the head of a column towards Grant, as if to attack him, while the rear filed off rapidly towards the Schuylkill.

This movement gained ground even for the front, which, while it advanced towards the enemy, also approached the river, and at the same time induced General Grant to halt, in order to prepare for battle.
While this manoeuvre was performing in the face of the detachment under Grant, a small party was thrown into the church yard, on the road towards General Gray, which also gave the appearance of an intention to attack in that quarter.