Howe marches a significant force (more than eighteen thousand men) out of New Brunswick on June 12, through Bound Brook, and as far as Somerset, apparently in an attempt to draw Washington out of the hills.

Washington, aware that Howe has left the army's heavy baggage behind, is not fooled and refuses to move.

Howe now abruptly retreats back to Piscataway on June 19, upon which Washington has some of his troops give chase, and he moves down out of the hills.

A week later Howe tries to spring a trap on one of Washington's detachments that would have cut the American retreat into the hills off; this effort is repulsed in the Battle of Short Hills.

After this failure, Howe embarks his army on transports and sets sail for Chesapeake Bay, intending to take Philadelphia from the south.