USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 30
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Pursuant to a recommendation of Congress, a call was made by the Exec- utive Council, September 6th, for 5,000 militia in addition to those already in
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the field. They were ordered to rendezvous on the heights of Darby, "with what arms they have or can procure, and otherwise equipped in the best manner they may be able." These equipments, including blankets, in case they were taken by the enemy or otherwise unavoidably lost, were to be paid for by the State.
In order to strengthen the army, General Washington had withdrawn nearly all the troops from the defensive works on the Delaware. The Navy Board became apprehensive "that some parts of the enemy's fleet would soon attempt to invade the city," and on September 5th, communicated its plans of defence to the Executive Council. Hog Island and the meadows were to be laid under water ; flats and boats should be provided to make a bridge from Fort Island to Province Island ; ninety or one hundred men should be put in the fort at Darby creek; four pieces of cannon should be got to Billingsport ; some person to be put in charge of the fort at Fort Island, and thirty men to be ready to be put on Bush Island. In pursuance of these suggestions Colonel Jehu Eyres, with two companies of militia artillery, was ordered to repair to the works that have been named, where, in conjunction with the commanders of the fleet, he was to exert himself "to take, burn, sink or otherwise destroy the enemy's ships or vessels that may attempt to invade this or the neighbor- ing States." He was promised a reinforcement of militia from Buck's county.
Information having been communicated to the American camp at New- port, that the enemy had disencumbered themselves of all heavy baggage, General Washington at once determined to put his army in a like condition. A requisition was made by the Quartermaster-General, September 7, upon the Executive Council for a sufficient number of teams, for the removal of all baggage except blankets and a few small clothes. These teams were to "be placed in the rear of the divisions, and immediately on an alarm, the tents and small packs left with the men, were to be sent over Brandywine."
Up to September 8th, the opinion was entertained by General Armstrong that the British would probably re-embark on the Delaware, cross over, and land at some convenient point on the Jersey shore, march up to the chevaux- de-frize, accompanied by the vessels of force, which he expected would bom- bard Philadelphia. On the very day that General Armstrong communicated this opinion to the Council, a movement of the enemy proved that it was not well founded. General Washington had strengthened the position he then occupied, and, regarding it as probable that the fate of Philadelphia would be there decided, he had resorted to every means in his power to encourage his troops and stimulate them to the greatest exertions. But the movements of the enemy indicated a design to turn the right of the American army, and to cut off all communication with Philadelphia. Washington decided at once to change his ground, and that night crossed the Brandywine, and took a position behind that stream at Chadds' Ford. General Maxwell was posted west of the ford on the road, and General Armstrong was assigned a position on the east side of the Brandywine, about two miles below, which enabled him to guard two fords, now known as Pyle's Ford and Corner Ford. In order to fortify the position at Chadds' Ford, a breastwork was hastily thrown up on the bluff
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bordering on the flat ground a little north of the main road. Part of the main army was stationed above the ford to guard other passes. This division of the American army has been estimated, numerically, at 15,000, including the Penn- sylvania militia, commanded by General Armstrong. Chief Justice Marshall, who was present at the battle of Brandywine, estimates the effective force of the Americans at 11,000, including the militia, and assigns his reasons why there should be such a large number of men unfit for military duty. Thus posted, and with this small body of effectives, Washington patiently awaited the approach of the greatly superior force of the enemy.
On the evening of the 9th, Howe marched in two columns which united early next morning at Kennet Square; after which he advanced parties on the roads leading to Lancaster, to Chadds' Ford, and to Wilmington. The account of the noted battle of Brandywine, which happened on the next day, will be mainly that given by Chief Justice Marshall (who was an eye-witness), in his "Life of Washington," with the addition of a few details, properly omitted by that author, but which it may be well to preserve in a strictly local history of that event :
"The armies were now within seven miles of each other, with only the Brandywine between them, which opposed no serious obstacle to a general engagement. This was sought by Howe, and not avoided by Washington.
"In the morning of the IIth, soon after day, information was received that the whole British army was in motion, advancing on the direct road leading to Chadd's Ford. The Americans were immediately under arms, and placed in order of battle for the purpose of contesting the passage of the stream. Skirmishing soon commenced between the advanced parties; and by ten o'clock Maxwell's corps, with little loss on either side, was driven over the Brandywine, below the ford. Knyphausen, who com- manded this column, paraded on the heights, reconnoitred the American army, and appeared to be making dispositions to force the passage of the creek. A skirt of woods, with the stream, divided him from Maxwell's corps, small parties of whom occasionally crossed over, and kept up a scattering fire, by which not much execution was done. At length one of these parties, led by Captains Waggoner and Porterfield, engaged the British flank guard very closely, killed a captain with ten or fifteen privates, drove them out of the woods, and were on the point of taking a field-piece. The sharpness of the skirmish, soon drew a large body of the British to that quarter, and the Ameri- cans were again driven over the Brandywine.
"About eleven in the morning, information reached General Washington, that a large column of the enemy, with many field-pieces, had taken a road leading from Kennet Square, directly up the country, and was marching to fords higher up on the Brandywine. This information was given by Colonel Ross, of Pennsylvania, who was in their rear, and estimated their numbers at 5,000 men. On receiving this information, Washington is said to have determined to detach General Sullivan and Lord Stirling to engage the left division of the British army, and with the residue of his troops to cross Chadds' Ford in person, and attack Knyphausen. Before this plan could be exe- cuted, counter intelligence was received, inducing an opinion that the movement of the British on their left was a feint, and that the column of Lord Cornwallis, after mak- ing demonstrations of crossing the Brandywine above its forks, had marched down the western side of that stream to unite itself again with Knyphausen.
"Various and contradictory reports were from time to time received. Even light horsemen, specially sent to reconnoitre, had failed to get sight of the enemy, and, by their report, succeeded in deceiving their general to such an extent that he was unwilling
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to credit correct intelligence when it arrived. This intelligence was brought about 2 o'clock by Mr. Thos. Cheyney, a justice of the peace of the neighborhood. Being unac- quainted with the squire, Washington at first discredited his story, and it was not until the excellent character of Esq. Cheyney, and his devotion to the American cause, had been made known to the general, that he yielded a reluctant belief in the important intel- ligence he communicated.
"The division of the British army under Cornwallis had taken a very long and cir- cuitous route, crossing the Brandywine considerably above its forks-the west branch at Trimble's Ford, and the east branch at Jefferis' Ford. As soon as Washington became convinced that a large division of the enemy had crossed the Brandywine above, he immediately made a change in the disposition of his force. The divisions commanded by Generals Sullivan, Stirling and Stephens, advanced farther up the Brandywine, and fronted the British columns marching down that stream. The division commanded by General Wayne remained at Chadds' Ford, to keep Knyphausen in check, in which service Maxwell was to co-operate. Greene's division, accompanied by General Wash- ington in person, formed a reserve, and took a central position between the right and left wings.
"The divisions detached against Lord Cornwallis formed on an advantageous piece of ground above Birmingham Friends' Meeting-house, chiefly within what is now the lawn surrounding the dwelling of Mrs. Pepper; both flanks being covered with a thick wood. Stirling's detachment advanced to within a short distance of the meeting-house, where he awaited the approach of the enemy. After waiting for some time, the near approach of the British was announced, when Stirling endeavored to secure the highest ground in the immediate vicinity of the meeting-house, but when he reached that point the British had so nearly gained it, that he could not have formed before they would have been upon him. In this dilemma he threw a small force into the graveyard, which was enclosed with a stone wall, for the purpose of giving the enemy employment until he could form his men on the rising ground in the rear. This body, after having made an obstinate resistance, rejoined the main division.
"Unfortunately, Sullivan's division, in taking its position, took too large a circuit, and was scarcely formed when the attack commenced. The battle began about half- past four o'clock, and was kept up warmly for some time. The right having been formed under the enemy's fire, first gave way, and by its flight exposed that flank of the remain- ing divisions to a galling fire. The line continued to break from the right, and in a short time was completely routed. The right wing made some attempts to rally, but being briskly charged, again broke, and the flight became general.
"Upon the commencement of the action on the right, the reserve division under Washington and Greene pressed forward to the support of that wing; but before its arrival the rout was complete, and nothing could be done but check the pursuit. For this purpose, the 10th Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel Stephens, and a regi- ment from Pennsylvania, commanded by Colonel Stewart, (neither of which had been in action,) were posted advantageously on the road taken by the defeated army. Though dispersed by General Howe, these regiments did good service in putting an end to the pursuit. To the same end General Greene contributed largely. Placing himself at the head of Muhlenberg's brigade, in the rear of the retreating army, he kept up, especially from his cannon, so destructive a fire, as greatly to retard the advance of the enemy. At one time, it is said, he opened his columns for the fugitives and closed them against their pursuers. Arriving at length at a narrow defile, strongly secured on its right and left by thickets or woods, he immediately halted, sent forward his cannon, that they might be out of danger, in case of being compelled to a hasty retreat, and formed his troops, determined to dispute the pass with small arms, notwithstanding the vast superi- ority of his assailants. He effected his purpose with complete success, for though he was dislodged by Howe, the pursuit was abandoned.
"When the American right was found to be fully engaged with Lord Cornwallis,
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Knyphausen made real dispositions for crossing the Brandywine. Chadds' Ford was defended by an intrenchment and battery with three field-pieces and a howitzer, this division of the army being under the command of General Wayne. After some resistance the work was forced, and the defeat of the right being known, the left wing also withdrew from the ground. The whole American army retreated towards Chester, arriving there by different roads and at different times in the night.
"The loss on the side of the British was one hundred killed and four hundred wounded; among the former was a young man named Percy, said to be a relative of the Duke of Northumberland. The loss on the side of the Americans was nine hundred killed and wounded. Among the wounded was the Marquis de la Fayette. As but few Americans were killed or wounded in the retreat, the incquality in the loss sustained has been attributed to the inferiority of their arms; many of their muskets being wholly unfit for service.
"General Ilowe has received great applause for the plan of this battle, which, but for one circumstance, was the very best that could have been adopted. The circuit taken by the division under Cornwallis was too great. Had General Washington received early and correct information of the wide separation of the two divisions of the British army, he would have crossed the Brandywine with his whole force, and made an attack on Knyphausen with almost a certainty of success, and could have been ready to meet the division under Cornwallis by the time it arrived, or upon some future day as best suited his convenience. To one acquainted with the distance and the ground traveled over by the detached wing of the British army, the taking of such a wide circuit, appears like a serious mistake on the part of Lord Howe, and one that would have changed the fate of the day, but for the extraordinary combination of circumstances that kept Washington in ignorance or in doubt in respect to the extent and character of the movements, until it was too late to take advantage of it."
Upon the arrival of General Washington at Chester, he addressed the fol- owing letter to Congress, by whose order it was published :
"CHESTER, September II. 1777. Twelve o'clock at Night."
"Sir: I am sorry to inform you, that in this day's engagement, we have been obliged to leave the enemy master of the field. Unfortunately the intelligence received of the Enemy's advancing up the Brandywine and crossing at a ford about six miles above us, was uncertain and contradictory, notwithstanding all my plans to get the best. This prevented my making a disposition adequate to the force with which the enemy attacked us on our right; in consequence of which, the troops first engaged were obliged to retire, before they could be reinforced .- In the midst of the attack on the right, that body of the enemy that remained on the other side of Chad's ford, crossed it and attacked the division there under the command of General Wayne, and the light troops under General Maxwell; who after a severe conflict, also retired. The militia under the command of General Armstrong, being posted at a ford about two miles below Chad's. had no opportunity of engaging.
"But though we fought under many disadvantages, and were from the cause above mentioned, obliged to retire, yet our loss of men is not, I am persuaded, very consider- able; I believe much less than the enemy's. We have also lost seven or eight pieces of cannon according to the best information I can at present obtain .- The baggage having been previously moved off is all secure; saving the men's blankets, which being at their backs, many of them doubtless are lost :
"I have directed all the troops to assemble behind Chester, where they are now arranging for the night .- Notwithstanding the misfortunes of the day, I am happy to find the troops in good spirits; and I hope another time we shall compensate for the losses now sustained.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR LENOX AND TILD & FOUNDATIONS.
7
Drawn by C. P Tholey HEAD QUARTERS OF GEN. WASHINGTON AT THE BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE. Bowen & Co lith, Philada
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"The Marquis La Fayette was wounded in the leg, and General Woodford in the . hand. Divers other officers were wounded and some slain, but the numbers of either cannot now be ascertained. G. WASHINGTON.
"P. S. It has not been in my power to send you earlier intelligence; the present being the first leisure moment I have since the engagement."
On the next day, the American army marched through Darby to Phila- delphia, where it was probably joined by straggling parties who had not reached Chester ; one of these, accompanied by a wagon load of the wounded with a surgeon, reached Gibbons' tavern in Springfield about ten o'clock on the night of the battle. Here their wounds were dressed and their wants supplied with everything the house could afford. They left early in the morning, for fear of being overtaken by the enemy.
While the American army was stationed on the Brandywine, Washington occupied the dwelling of Benjamin Ring, a mile from Chadds' Ford, as his headquarters. This house is now (1862) owned and occupied by Joseph Har- vey, and has undergone some modifications since it was occupied by the "father of his country."
The quarters of La Fayette were at the dwelling of Gideon Gilpin, who was still living in the same house when La Fayette visited this country in 1825. The procession that accompanied the General to the Brandywine battle- ground, stopped in front of the house while he paid his respects to old Gideon, who was then on his death-bed. This property was owned in 1862 by Samuel Painter, who has erected a neat mansion near the old house, which yet remains in nearly its former condition.
A little above the road leading from Dilworth's town to Brandywine, on the descending ground, there stood a small house occupied by a man named Brown at the time of the battle. When Brown discovered that the Americans were retreating, followed by the British, he ran out of his house, and huzzaed for King George at the top of his voice. An American rifleman within hear- ing, indignant at his treachery, shot Brown just as he re-entered his dwelling, the ball passing through the fleshy part of his arm.
At the time of the battle, Edward Brinton, Esq., then an aged man, owned and occupied the property of the late Edward B. Darlington, on the road leading from Dilworth's town to the Brandywine. When that division of the American army that met the British at and near Birmingham Meeting-house was retreating, closely followed by the enemy, and before the firing had ceased, a number of British officers stopped at the house of Squire Brinton, set out the dining table, and drank ten or a dozen bottles of wine in a very short space of time; after which some of them passed into another part of the house where the old gentleman was sitting. One of these officers said to him, "Well, old gentleman, what do you think of these times?" The Squire replied that he did not approve of all the measures of the Americans, but that he thought the acts of the British government had been cruel and oppressive. To this the officer replied : "Indeed, old gentleman, I think so too, and had it not been for your declaration of independence, I never would have drawn my sword in America."
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In the fight at Birmingham Meeting-house, a party of the Americans for a time occupied a position inside of the rear wall of the grave-yard. A number of the British fell here. The killed of both armies who fell in the vicinity of the meeting-house, were buried in the grave-yard which partly surrounds it; their remains occupying one common grave just inside of the gate, and on the side of it next to the meeting-house. The meeting-house was used as a hospi- tal while the British army remained in the neighborhood.
A Major Furgesson, who was the commander of a small corps of riflemen attached to the British army, mentions an incident which he says took place, while he lay concealed in a small skirt of wood in front of Knyphausen's divi- sion. In a letter to Dr. Furgesson, he writes :
"We had not lain long when a rebel officer, remarkable for a huzzar dress, passed towards our army, within one hundred yards of my right flank, not perceiving us. He was followed by another dressed in dark green and blue, mounted on a good bay horse, with a remarkably high cocked hat. I ordered three good shots to steal near to them; but the idea disgusted me; I recalled the order. The huzzar, in returning, made a circuit, but the other passed within a hundred yards of us; upon which I advanced from the woods towards him. Upon my calling, he stopped; but looking at me, he proceeded. I again drew his attention, and made a sign to him to stop, but he slowly continued on his way. As I was within that distance at which, in the quickest firing, I could have lodged half a dozen balls in or about him before he was out of my reach, I had only to determine; but it was not pleasant to fire at the back of an unoffending individual, who was acquitting himself very coolly of his duty, so I let him alone. The day after, when I was telling this story to some wounded officers, who lay in the same room with me, when one of our surgeons, who had been dressing the rebel officers, came in and told me that General Washington was all that morning, with the light troops and only accompanied by a French officer in a huzzar dress, he, himself, dressed and mounted in every way as above described. I am not sorry that I did not know at the time who it was."
The good genius of Washington never forsook him. The young man Percy, supposed to be a relative of the Duke of Northumberland, before men- tioned, was killed near the meeting-house. The following anecdote is related of him :
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"When he had arrived, with the regiment he accompanied, in sight of the Americans ranged in order of battle upon the heights near Birmingham meeting-house, he sur- veyed the field around him for a moment, and then turning to his servant, handed him his purse and his gold watch to take charge of, remarking. 'this place I saw in a dream before I left England, and I know I shall fall here.' The coincidence was striking and remarkable-the event verified the prediction. His name is not mentioned in the Brit- ish official account of the battle, because he held no commission in the army. He was merely a volunteer."
The place where La Fayette received his wound, as pointed out by hin- self in 1825, was on the high ground a little northwest of the new frame public school-house. It occurred while Washington, in person, and the worthy young Frenchman were endeavoring to rally some of the retreating regiments. Some hard fighting took place at this point.
ATTLE OF :CAH TRINE SEPT !! 1777
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LAFAYETTE'S HEADQUARTERS AT BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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For two days after the battle of Brandywine, the chief part of the British army lay encamped about Dilworth's town. During this time General Howe had his headquarters at the house now owned and occupied by George Gilpin. It was probably occupied by a person of the same name at that time.
On the day after the battle, a detachment of the British army, under General Grant, marched to Concord meeting-house, where Lord Cornwallis, with the balance of the army, joined him on the 13th. From this point the main body of the army moved to Village Green and encamped, leaving a de- tacliment at Concord to guard the wounded left at the meeting-house. Anoth- er detachment was sent to Wilmington, to which place some of the wounded were also removed.
The encampment at Village Green was the largest ever established within the limits of Delaware county, extending from Mount Hope to the lower part of what is now Village Green, where General Howe had his headquarters in the old brick house still standing. There is evidence that the British were in possession of the town of Chester, four miles from this encampment, on the 13th of the month. The depredations committed on the property of the people within the bounds of this county, by the British army under General Howe, between the time of the battle of Brandywine and his evacuation of Philadel- phia, were enormous. Many families were stripped of every article they pos- sessed, and left in a state of perfect destitution. It is but fair to infer that many of these enormities were committed against the wishes of the command- ing General, as the tories were frequently great sufferers, though the Whig families suffered the most. The British army had not before occupied a dis- trict of country so rich as this in agricultural products, nor one in which each farm-house was so well stored with everything that could minister to the real comforts of life. An abundant field was presented from which these reckless freebooters did not fail to gather a rich harvest, leaving little to glean, when time and opportunity was afterwards afforded them to finish their wicked work. The plundering was by no means confined to articles that would be use- ful to the army ; every article of female apparel was taken from some houses, and the furniture carried away or destroyed.
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