USA > Delaware > History of the state of Delaware, Volume I > Part 12
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Following are several letters written by Washington, which, while not mentioning our soldiers particularly, tell of the movements of the armies on Delaware soil.
VIEWS AT COOCH'S BRIDGE.
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Washington to General Armstrong of the state militia.
August 25, 1777.
"I have just received information that the enemy began to land this morning about six miles below the Head of Elk, opposite Cecil Court House. I desire you to send off every man of the militia under your command, that is properly armed, as quick as possible."
Washington to President of Congress.
September 3, 1777.
"This morning the enemy came out with considerable force and three pieces of artillery against our light corps, and after some pretty smart skirmishing, obliged them to retreat, being far superior in numbers. They advanced about two miles this side of Iron Hill, and then withidrew to that place. Our parties now lay at White Clay Creek, except the advanced pickets which are at Christi- ana Bridge."
Washington to President of Congress.
September 9, 1777.
"The enemy advanced yesterday with a seeming intention of attacking us at our post near Newport. Upon reconnoitering, it appeared their real intention was to march by our right and by suddenly passing the Brandywine, get between us and Philadelphia. The army accordingly marched at two o'clock this morn- ing, and will take post this evening upon high ground near Chadd's Ford."
The battle of Cooch's Bridge was fought on September 3rd. This, although in actual fighting little more than a skirmish, was noteworthy for two things. It was the first time our American flag was in battle. And it checked Howe's advance on Philadelphia. Howe's seventeen thousand men stretched from Glasgow on the south, to a little above the Welsh Tract Meeting House on the north. Washington extended his eleven thousand men from White Clay Creek, just west of Stanton, to near Newport. Gen. William Maxwell was ordered to select men from the different brigades and advance to the lines of the British army, with express directions "to be constantly near the enemy, and to give them every possible annoyance." And he carried out his directions fully. Captain John Mon- tresor, Chief of Engineers of Howe's Army, says in his journal, " Here the rebels began to attack us about nine o'clock with a
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continued irregular fire for nearly two miles." Maxwell had but seven hundred and twenty regulars, a thousand militia, and the Philadelphia Light Horse, and with this force he was opposing the main part of Howe's army, and it was only when the enemy's cannon began firing that he fell back across the White Clay Creek with a loss of forty killed and wounded. The forward march of the British, however, was stopped and for five days they lay in camp.
Plainly it was Howe's intention to proceed to Philadelphia through Stanton, Newport and Wilmington, but thus con- stantly harrassed and finding the American army ready to re- ceive him, on September 8th he turned to the left toward Hockessin by way of Newark, and encamped within four miles of Washington's right. Washington had entrenched himself behind Red Clay Creek, but finding out this last movement and foreseeing Howe's plan, he marched the army through Brandywine Springs to the road from Wilmington to Lancaster, thence through Kennett Township, Chester County, and encamped in Birmingham Township, Pennsylvania. The main road to Philadelphia, still Howe's objective point, was over Chadd's Ford. The main part of Washington's army was drawn up here and on the hills back of it. This was on September 11th. The Delaware regiment was sent to "Painter's Ford," Anderson says, and this from his descrip- tion must be Brinton's Ford. They were under Sullivan, and his brigade was to check any attempt of the British to turn Washington's right flank. Washington started to cross the Brandywine at Chadd's Ford in order to attack the British on the south bank, but word was wrongly brought to him that the enemy were not crossing above to turn his flank, and he, supposing that the entire force was opposing him at Chadd's Ford, drew back. In reality, a large force of the British under Cornwallis did cross and attack the brigade at Brinton's Ford. In opposing these, our regiment stood fighting gamely for several hours, several times changing their position while fighting. A retreat was ordered at last, and the brigade fall-
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ing back joined the main army near Chester, encamping for the night near that place.
The next morning they collected the stragglers at Darby and then marched toward Philadelphia. Reaching the Schuylkill they turned to the left and some miles from the river encamped for the night. The loss in our regiment had been comparatively small considering the heavy firing they had been through.
Shortly after the battle of Brandywine Caesar Rodney strongly urged the importance of occupying Wilmington by driving out the small British force in possession of the town, by an attack of a detachment of regular forces and militia, to induce a diversion of the enemy and perhaps to restore confi- dence among the local inhabitants after the defeat at Chadd's Ford. This, however, was not carried out, and, before winter really set in, Wilmington was evacuated by the British.
On the night of September 12, 1777, part of our regiment was detailed on scout duty with some Maryland men. They were to keep near the British and report their movements, and they performed this faithfully. It was dangerous work in the land of the Tories, the enemy close by, exposed to the rain, with no tents, and seldom able to build a fire, foraging for food as best they could. But they stuck at it until, nine days later, they rejoined the army on its reaching the east bank of the Schuylkill.
Howe, now unopposed, entered Philadelphia on September 26th, and advanced his army a little north of the city, on a line from the Delaware river to the Schuylkill through Ger- mantown. Our army moved to the Perkiomem, about twenty miles from Germantown.
On October 3, 1777, in the early morning, an attack was made on the British. A detachment from the Delaware and Maryland line was sent on an advance attack at five a. ni. to drive in the British guards at Mt. Airy, at the entrance of Germantown. Anderson's description is as follows : "The guard at Mt. Airy gave one fire and gave way. Our division
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displayed to the right. We pushed down all fences in our way and marched to the battle. It was a very foggy morn- ing. Bullets began to fly on both sides-some were killed- some wounded, but the order was to advance. We advanced in line of the division-the firing on both sides increased- and what with the thickness of the air, and the firing of guns, we could see but a little way before us. My position in the line brought me and my party opposite the British infantry, behind a small breastwork, and here began the hardest battle I was ever in-at thirty feet distance.
" Firing from both sides was kept up for some time, all in darkness. My men were falling very fast. I now took off my hat and shouted as loud as I could, 'Charge bayonets and advance.' They did so to a man. The British heard me and ran for it. I lost four men killed on this spot, and about twenty wounded.
" We proceeded into the heart of Germantown, and soon were in possession of a part of their artillery-about thirty pieces-and among their tents. But the tables were soon turned. Both our wings had given way-the British brought their force to the centre, and of course, we had to retreat, but our regiment came off in good order. Let it be observed here -the Delaware regiment was never broken, no, not in the hottest fire.
"The soldiers had marched forty miles, on reaching camp again in the evening, had fought a battle all day, had eaten nothing and drunk nothing but water."
Shortly after this reinforcements came in to the American army, but nothing important took place during the fall of the year, except a little occasional firing on both sides. In De- cember, Washington withdrew to Valley Forge, but fortunately for our men, he sent General Smallwood with the Maryland and Delaware troops, and Hazen's regiment to Wilmington, Delaware, to winter. This comprised about fifteen hundred men.
The winter was spent quietly, except for a few attacks on
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British foraging parties along the banks of the Delaware river. Some of the Delaware men went out on a raft with one piece of artillery and drove off a packet and a sloop from the mouth of the Christiana Creek. Anderson, after fighting all day on this raft and working it back up the creek to Wilmington, again at dusk walked six miles to a ball at New Castle that evening ! General Smallwood describes him as "a jolly-a merry fellow-a little wild and fond of dancing, but punctual and faithful to his duties."
In May, 1778, this detachment at Wilmington was ordered to return to headquarters at Valley Forge. On June 18th, Howe evacuated Philadelphia, crossed the Delaware and pro- ceeded through New Jersey. Washington immediately started in pursuit. The American army crossed the Delaware at Coryell's Ferry, the present Lambertville, and marched to in- tercept the British in their advance to New York. On the 28th of June, it struck the rear of the British in the neighbor- hood of Monmouth, and there was much hard firing, but through conflicting reports, and a misunderstanding, the American army drew back when it should have gone forward, so that no decisive result was reached, and the British drew off and embarked at Sandy Hook for New York City.
Our army proceeded to Brunswick and there celebrated the 4th of July, 177S ; thence they went to King's Ferry on the Hudson River, crossed and proceeded to White Plains where they encamped and remained until September. Then the Delaware regiment was sent to West Point to strengthen that position under Putnam. They remained there until ordered to winter-quarters at Bound Brook, New Jersey, where the entire winter of 1778-79 was passed. The regiment spent the next summer in western New Jersey, inactive, marching and counter-marching from place to place until ordered to take up winter-quarters at Morristown, New Jersey, where they spent the winter of 1779-80 in huts. This season was very severe, and the men suffered from want of provisions, due to the ex- cessive falls of snow. The only incident of the winter was the
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descent of a detachment on Staten Island, crossing the Sound on the ice. This attack failed, owing to the severity of the weather.
In the spring, by act of Congress, Delaware and Maryland were assigned to the southern department ; two Maryland reg- iments and Delaware's one regiment were added to the south- ern army. Baron De Kalb was assigned as commander of these three and General Gates was ordered to the south. The companies of the Delaware regiment had been reduced to about thirty privates each, but they were recruited up to sixty men apiece, so that the regiment was about five hundred strong when it started south.
The roll of officers in February, 1780, was as follows :
Colonel, David Hall. Lieutenant-Colonel, Charles Pope.
Paymaster, Edward Roche.
Major, Joseph Vaughan. Adjutant, George Purvis.
Quartermaster, Thomas Anderson.
Surgeon, Reuben Gilder.
Surgeon's Mate, John Platt.
FIRST COMPANY.
Captain, John Patten. First Lieutenant, William McKennan. Second Lieutenant, Elijah Skillington.
SECOND COMPANY.
Captain, Robert Kirkwood. First Lieutenant, Daniel P. Cox. Second Lieutenant, Charles Kidd. THIRD COMPANY.
Captain, John Learmonth. First Lieutenant, Henry Duff. Second Lieutenant, Thomas Anderson.
FOURTH COMPANY.
Captain, Peter Jacquett. First Lieutenant, James Campbell. Second Lieutenant, Stephen McWilliam.
FIFTH COMPANY.
Captain, John Willson. First Lieutenant, Paul Queenault. Second Lieutenant, Edward Roche.
SIXTH COMPANY.
Captain, John Corse. First Lieutenant, Caleb Brown.
SEVENTH COMPANY.
Captain, John Rhodes. First Lieutenant, Caleb P. Bennett.
EIGHTH COMPANY.
Captain, George Purvis. First Lieutenant, Joseph Hosman.
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There are fuller accounts of the Delaware regiment in the South than in any other part of the war, and it was then that the regiment most distinguished itself.
The Journal of Sergeant-Major William Seymour gives a very full and complete account of the deings of the Delaware Regiment in the South. This Journal was published some years ago by the Historical Society of Delaware.
On April 13, 1780, a general order was issued for the Dela- ware and Maryland troops to march to join the Southern army in South Carolina. This was not so easy as it seems, for the manufacturers employed in providing for the army would neither go on with their business nor deliver the articles they had completed, declaring that they had suffered enough from the depreciation of the money, and that they would not part with their property without immediate payment. But by great exertion, the troops were finally enabled to move. On April 16 they started from their quarters near Morristown, New Jersey, and marched through Philadelphia and Wilming- ton to Head of Elk, now Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland, 108 miles. A description of them may be inserted here, for they were men of whom the State is truly proud. It is from the letters of a lady who saw them pass through Philadelphia : " What an army, said both Whig and Tory, as they saw them pass. The shorter men of each company in the front rank, the taller men behind them, some in hunting shirts, some in uniforms, some in common clothes, some with their hats cocked and some without, and those who did cock them, not all wearing them the same way, but each man with a green sprig, emblem of hope, in his hat, and each bearing his fire- lock with what, even to uninstructed eyes, had the air of skill- ful training."
From Elkton they went by water to Petersburg, Virginia, except the "pack of artillery which went by land with a de- tachment from all the line which went to escort them." They met at Petersburg, remained there four days, and then left for Hillsborough, North Carolina, which they reached June 22d,
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469 miles from Head of Elk. Eight days later they marched to Buffalo Ford on Deep River, and here General Gates took command of all the Southern army.
" At this time," says Seymour, " we were much distressed for want of provisions, insomuch that we were obliged to send out parties through the country to thresh out grain for our sustenance, and this availed not much, for what was procured in this manner could scarce keep the troops from starving."
A little later on Seymour says: " At this time we were so much distressed for want of provisions that we were fourteen days and drew but one-half pound of flour. Sometimes we drew half a pound of beef per man, but that so miserably poor that scarce any mortal could make use of it-living chiefly on green apples and peaches."
The American army marched toward the enemy, who re- treated into Camden. On August 13, 1780, our men encamp- ing at Rugeley's Mill were joined by three thousand militia from Virginia, North and South Carolina, which encouraged them greatly, but this same militia proved their ruin later in the battle of Camden.
On the evening of August 15th General Gates ordered an advance to attack the enemy at Camden, thirteen miles off. Seymour's descriptions may be inserted freely here, as they best give an idea of this battle of Camden.
" You must observe that instead of rum we had a gill of molasses served out to us, which instead of enlivening our spirits jalap would have been no worse. The enemy having notice of our approach made a movement to meet us, and our advance guard and that of the enemy meeting together, there ensued a very hot fire in which the infantry and ad- vance pickets suffered very much. Gates had put Armand's Corps of Horse in front. At the flash of the enemy's guns the whole corps turned and ran, with consequent confusion in our ranks. Seymour puts it ' Armand's Horse thought of nothing but plundering our wagons as they retreated off.'".
A pause ensued till daybreak during which the American
مهند
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army was drawn up. The Second Maryland Brigade and the Delaware regiment on the right under Gist, the Virginia militia on the left, and the North Carolina militia in the center comprised the line. On either flank of the army was a morass, narrowing the ground so that Gates formed a second line of the First Maryland Brigade. DeKalb was on the right.
At daybreak the battle was reopened on the part of the Americans, and as Seymour says, "with great alacrity and uncommon bravery." Colonel Webster's British Legion charged impetuously on the left of our line, and the militia immediately threw down their muskets and retreated, some not even firing once. The militia in the centre with the ex- ception of one regiment followed, and Gates, thinking all was lost, fled, leaving the brave continentals on the right without orders. Smallwood was leading up the second line to support the first when Webster, having routed the militia, wheeled upon his flank. Disordered at first by the sudden dashing charge, they broke, but formed again to cover and support the first line. This under General Gist had firmly met the charge of the British left. Again and again the British charged with bayonets, but no ground was gained. And so they held until Cornwallis fell on them with his dragoons. The utmost gallantry could no longer maintain the unequal fight, and the survivors fell back to the woods, leaving the brave DeKalb dying on the field. He spent his last moments dictating a letter to his aids, full of praise and admiration for the courage and good conduct of his division.
The Delaware regiment, though almost destroyed, had made its name immortal. Judge Whitely in his paper on the Rev- olutionary Soldiers of Delaware, pays the following handsome tribute to the regiment :
"Never did men acquit themselves better. With three thousand militia flying, tearing through their ranks, bursting away like an unarmed torrent, with all this demoralization, with Britain's best soldiers pressing them, the flower, it is said,
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of the army, commanded by the best of British officers, they held their ground, charging and repelling charges, broken more than once, and borne down by superior numbers, but forming again and rallying and fighting bravely to the end."
The Delaware regiment went into the fight five hundred strong, but came out nearly annihilated. After a battle of but little more than an hour, there were but one hundred and eighty-eight left, with forty-seven prisoners, and two hundred and sixty-five dead and wounded on the field. All the field officers and seven company officers were prisoners, and Robert Kirkwood, now senior officer, took command of the few scattered survivors. At Charlotte and Salisbury he collected as many of the men as possible, and the whole division under General Smallwood withdrew to Hillsborough, North Carolina, two hundred miles from Camden. Three companies of light infantry were formed, and Kirkwood was put in command of one of these, composed of the remnants of the Delaware and Second Maryland regiments. This was made the first com- pany of the second battalion of Colonel Williams' regiment of infantry. In a truly deplorable condition, without baggage, and lacking sufficient arms and ammunition, they laid at Hillsborough for a month waiting for supplies. On October 7, 1780, they set out again for Salisbury, reaching there on the 15th. After marching, reconnoitering and foraging, they joined the main army under Gates on November 11th, and remained with him until December 6th, when General Greene arrived and took command of the Southern army in place of Gates.
The troops under Morgan, among which was Kirkwood's company, after marching to Pacolet river, remained there until January 14, 1781, and then marched further up the river to frustrate the plans of the enemy, who were endeavor- ing to surround them, Colonel Tarleton on one side and Lord Cornwallis on the other. Seymour says: "We encamped on the Cowpen Plains on the evening of the sixteenth of January, and the next day received intelligence that Colonel Tarleton
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was advancing in our rear to give us battle, upon which we were drawn up in order of battle, the men seeming to be all in good spirits and very willing to fight. The militia dis- mounted and were drawn up in front of the standing troops on the right and left flanks, being advanced about two hun- dred yards. By this time the enemy advanced and attacked the militia in front, which they stood very well for a time, till, being overpowered by the number of the enemy, they re- treated, but in very good order, not seeming to be in the least confused. By this time the enemy advanced and attacked our light infantry with both cannon and small arms, when meet- ing with a very warm reception they then thought to surround our right flank, to prevent which Captain Kirkwood with his company wheeled to the right and attacked their left flank so vigorously that they were scon repulsed ; our men advancing on them so very rapidly that they soon gave way. Our left flank advanced at the same time, and repulsed their right flank upon which they retreated, leaving us entire masters of the field."
A little later Seymour says : " The victory on our side can be attributed to nothing else but Divine Providence, they hav- ing thirteen hundred in the field of their best troops and we not eight hundred of standing troops and militia-all the offi- cers and men behaved with uncommon and undaunted brav- ery, but more especially the brave Captain Kirkwood and his company who that day did wonders, rushing on the enemy without either dread or fear, and being instrumental that day in taking a great number of prisoners."
At this time the supernumerary officers, without commands, were ordered home on recruiting service. For some reason this did not go into effect, and Captains McKennan and Queenault, and Lieutenants Hyatt and Bennett went to Chris- tiana Bridge to receive and drill such substitutes as might be brought forward. They remained there until August, 1781, when orders were received to follow General Washington with his army and the French to Virginia. They went by land to
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Annapolis, Maryland, and thence by water to Williamsburg, Virginia. As soon as the troops were concentrated, General Washington led them toward Yorktown, where the British under Cornwallis had fortified themselves. The whole Amer- ican army driving in the outposts, took possession of the ground, and encircled the British works. The American bat- teries were soon placed and opened fire, continuing for several days, when by a quick charge two redoubts were taken. These were on elevated ground, and gave the Americans a mastery over the town as well of the outworks. The enemy attempted to withdraw but failed with considerable loss, and the Ameri- can lines were drawn closer and closer until finally the British were forced to surrender.
After this victory, the Pennsylvania, Delaware and Mary- land troops under the command of General St. Clair proceeded south to join the army under Greene in the Carolinas where they arrived January 1, 1782. The Delaware detachment, under the command of Captain McKennan, took station with Colonel William Washington's Legion which was composed of the remains of his regiment of horse and the remnant of Hall's Delaware regiment under Kirkwood. The other offi- cers, except Kirkwood, were relieved by those under McKen- nan, and they with the invalids and several non-commissioned officers and privates were sent home to Delaware.
Meanwhile Kirkwood and his company had, on January 18, 1781, the day after the encounter with Tarleton, marched off toward Salisbury with the prisoners, and lay on the Catabo River until February 1st. Much marching and skirmishing followed in which, according to Seymour, the Delaware troops took an active part until March 6th. On that night, Kirk- wood with his company and about forty riflemen were de- tached to surprise Colonel Tarleton, which they seem to have accomplished most successfully. Seymour says: "Having approached at about one o'clock in the morning, Kirkwood going himself with a guide to reconnoitre their lines, when finding the way their pickets were posted, he ordered the whole
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to move on, having formed the line of battle. When we came near the sentinels they challenged very briskly, and no answer being made, they immediately discharged their pieces and ran in to their guard. We took one of their senti- nels off his post at the same time and obliged him to show us where the guard lay ; upon which we fired very briskly upon them. By this time the camp was all alarmed, Colonel Tai- leton retreating in great confusion toward the main army ; when, meeting a party of Tories and mistaking them for our militia, he charged on them very furiously, putting great num- bers to the sword. On the other hand, they taking Tarleton for our horse and infantry, there commenced a smart skirmish, in which great numbers of the Tories were sent to the lower regions. We marched for camp."
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