History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 21

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 21

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

took place between the dwelling of Richard Strode and Osborns's Hill. Being now in the front, we walked on inconsiderntely until we ar- rived at a pair of bars, opposite the ancient dwelling of Amos Davis, through which we went into the field southwest of the road, and walked up to the upper fence, being the division line between the two tracts of land of Amos Davis and the heirs of his unele, Danicl Davis. On turning our faces back we bad a grand view of the British army, as they advanced over and down the side of Osborne's Ilili and the lands of James Carter; scarcely a vacant space left. While we were amusing ourselves with the wonderful curiosity before us, to our great astonishment and surprise the firing of the musketry took place. The advance-guard aforementioned, having arrived at the Street Road, were fired upon by a company of the Americans who were stationed in the orchard north of Samuel Jones' brick dwelling-house. The attack wns immediately returned by the Hessians, who, stepping up the bank of the road, alongside of the orchard, used the fence as a brenstwork, through which they fired upon the company that com- meveed the attnek. From the distance at which we were from them, -though in full view until the smoke of the firiog covered them from our sight,-I was under no apprehension of danger, especially when there was such'n tremendous foree eoming on and ready to engage in the netion ; nevertheless, I concluded it hest to retire, finding that my inconsiderate curiosity had prompted me to exceed the bounds of prudence. I proposed it to my companion, but he refused to retarn, being disposed to see what further would take place and how it would end.

" I then made the best of my way through the crowd until I arrived at the aforementioned hars on the rond, which opened into the field of Amos Davis, where I was met by several companies of soldiers, who were ordered into the field to form and prepare for the approaching engagement. The opening of the bars not being of saffieient width to admit them to pass with that expedition which the emergency of the ease required, n German officer, on horseback, ordered the fence to be taken down, and, as I was near to the spot, had to be subject to his requiring, as he flourished a drawo sword over my head, with others who stood by. Ou n removal of the second rait I was forcibly struck with the impropriety of being aetive in assisting to take the lives of my fellow-beings, and therefore desisted from proceeding any further in obedience to his commands. The hurry was great, and so many rushing forward under arms, I found no difficulty in retiring unobserved, and was soon out of reach of those ealled immediately into action. I lost no time on my return, and when I arrived on the top of the hill I discovered on the eminence in Samuel Osborne's field a number of my nequaiotances, who were standing near to a consider- able number of persons on horseback, and viewing them, with the different movements of the army. I joined in with them. It was now a time of some seriousness and alarm among them. The battle had commenced in earnest; little wns to be heard but the firing of the musketry and the roaring of ennoon from both parties. It appeared that those on horseback were some of the principal officers of the British army, with their nides, who had collected together to consult about carrying on the engagement to the best advantage. Among them wns Gen. Howe. He was mounted on a large English horse, mueh reduced in flesh, I suppose, from being so long confined on board of the fleet between New York and the head of the Chesapeake Bay, which was about six weeks, ocensioned by contrary winds. The gen- eral was a large, portly man, ef coarse fentares. He appeared to have lost his teeth, as his mouth had somewhat fallen in. As I stood alongside, I had a full opportunity of viewing him as he sat on his horse, and bad to observe his large legs and boots, with flourishing spurs thereon. While the officers were in consultation and we view- ing them, together with the smoke issuing from the eannon and mus- ketry, we remarked a tremendous ronring of cannon, and volumes of smoke arising therefrom, nt Chnd's Ford. Geo. Knyphausen having discovered that the engagement was oo with the front of Howe's army at the meeting-house, he immediately forced the troops under bis command neross the Brandywine, and the whole of Gen. Wash- ington's army at that station were routed from their breastworks, and from the different positions' they had taken to impede the march of the British. From these circumstances, Gen. Washington considered it prudent to cffeet n retreat, which took place neeordingly. While we remained on Osborne's Hill we had the opportunity of making many observations,-the engagement of both armies, the fields in front of us containing great heaps of blankets and baggage, thrown together to relieve the men for action; the regular march of the

British army, consisting of borse and foot, artillery, baggage and provision wngons, arms and ammunition, together with a host of plunderers and rabble that accompanted the army ; almost the whole face of the country around appeared to be covered and alive with these ohjeets. The time occupied in their passage was about four bours.

" We remained on the bill for some time, and when the engagement seemed to be nearly over, or at Jenst that part of it which was in view, and the day being far on the decline, we were about retiring; but, as admiration and curiosity had been the order of the day, I proposed to some of my companions that we should go over to the field of battle and take a view of the dead and wounded, innsmuch ae we might never have such another opportunity. Some of them consented, and others with reluetance yielded. We hastened thither, and awful was the seene,-to behold sach a number of fellow-beings lying near each other, severely injured, and some of them mortally ; a few dead, but a small proportion, considering the quantity of powder and balls that had been used. It was now time for the surgeons to exert themselves, and divers of them were busily employed. Some of the doors of the meeting-house were torn off, and the wounded carried thereon into the house, which wns now occupied as a British hospital, instead of for the American sick, for whom it had been preparing some days previous.

"The wounded officers were first attended to; several of distinction had fallen, and as everything appeared to be in a state of confusion, and we being spectators and assistance required, some of our num- ber,-of whom I was one, -- at the request of the surgeons, beenme ac- tive in removing them therein. I desired to know who they were; but it was not a time for inquiring, and I do not recolleet to havs heard the name of one of them mentioned at that time. After assist- ing to carry two of them into the house, I was disposed to see an operation performed by one of the surgeons, who was preparing te amputnte a limb, by having a brass clamp or serew fixed thereon, a little above the knee-joint. He bad a knife in his hand, the blade of which was of cireular form, and was about to commence the io- cision, when he recollected that it might be necessary for the wounded man to take something to support him doring the operation. Ho told some of bis attendants to give him a little wine or brandy to keep up his spirits, to which he replied, ' No, doeter, it is not neces- sary ; my spirits are up enough without it.' He then observed that he had heard some of them say there was some water in the house, and if there was, he would like a little to wet his mouth. As I was listening to the conversation, and waiting for the water to arrive, one of muy companions caught me by the arm and mentioned that it was necessary to go out immediately, as they were fixing the picket- guards, and if we did not get awny in a few moments we should have to remain within the lines of encampment during the night. I in- stantly complied, and we saved our distance, and were at liberty to return home.

"The dusk of the evening was then on, and we set out accordingly, being twelve or fifteen in number, two of whom hnd started earlier and were some distance before us. I suppose we were all under the erroneous impression that from what bad passed during the day there was no probability of an American under arms to be found in the neighborhood. In this, however, we were mistaken, for the two persons nforesaid, who had started early, were talking rather freely on the defent of the American army thnt afternoon, and were everheard by a scouting-party wbo bnd been following the rear of the British during their movements. They were posted in a field on no emi- nenes, and were watebing the movements of the British in the even- ing after tho battle was over. [Note .- Tradition says this scouting- party was a company of local militin, commanded by Capt. William Gibbons.] They bniled the two gentlemen who had been and wers then taking soeb liberties, and as no answer was returned they re- pented their call, which, being disregarded, ons of the scouts, without further hesitation or ceremony, fired upon them. The ball pene- trated the thigh of one of them named Simon Kerns, and he fell. They then rode off, and were seen traveling up the public rond that led to our dwelling. The report of the musket was beard by some of our number who were behind, and that not without serieus appre- hensions, not knowing what it could mean. When we arrived at the place where the circumstance bad happened, we were informed of the particulars, and that a kind neighbor, Richard Strode, bad 88- sisted in carrying the wounded man into a small house, where be iny groaning and lamenting in grievous manner. [Note .- Simon Kerns

GENERAL HISTORY.

not having the assistance of a surgeon that night, the wound swelled considerably. Thomas Darlington attended him, but did not think it best to extract the ball. Simon finally recovered, but carried the ball as long as he lived, without serious injury to his person or occu- pation. He died about the year 1830.]

" It would be difficult to express our feelings on this occasion. We were all panic-struck, not knowing but what it might be our fate, or perhaps worse, in a few minutes. We felt our imprudence or incon- siderate conduct with great force, and the curiosity of the day was now greatly damped. To move forward was terrifying; to remain where we were would be no small punishment under existing circum- stancea. Some of us had left our families, consisting only of a few females and children, and we knew not what dreadful events might have taken pince in our absence. Imagination was worked up to a great height, and our feara were as great as we could well bear, such was the dilemma that we were in. I considercd that it overbalanced all that we had seen, and was now without remedy. A consultation was held, and we found ourselves surrounded with difficulties. To pursue the public road home was dangerous, from the expectation that the aforementioned scouting-party, or others of the military, were lying in wait for us, and that we might be fired upon, or other- wise taken up and carried before the prevailing power to answer for our conduct. If we attempted to return through the fields we were apprehensive we might be met by some of the military, and more guilt would appear than if we went boldly along the road. We were two miles from home, and the moon having risen, the night was clear and bright and remarkably still, so every movement could be discov- ered at a distance. After various projects being suggested, we finally resolved to take the nearest way home, which was through divers fields and woods, from a hope that there would be less dan- ger and risk of being detected. We came to the conclusion before we set out that no conversation should take place on the way, or obser- vations made that would be unfavorable, in case we should be over- heard. We accordingly commenced our route, and reached our dwellings at a late hour of the night without molestation or alarm, except in one instance, when climbing over a fence on the way we surprised a flock of sheep which lay alongside taking their repose. They started and ran off aa if their greatest enemy was in close pur- suit of them. Our feara were up in an instant, not knowing but that those whom we so much dreaded were not at hand.

" We found all safe and undisturbed when we arrived at home, but met with a severe reproof from one of our sisters for having taken such liberties, and given way to an idle curiosity, which might in- volve ourselves and the family in great difficulty and distress, saying that for her part she had no wish nor desire to see one person in the whule British army. I was satisfied with the correctness of her ob- servation, but it was too late to be remedied. I could say for myself that I do not recollect ever to have felt a more thankful heart to the great author of my existence than I did after I retired to bed, though I knew not what might be the consequence of that day's expedition when it came to be known that we had shown such an attachment to, and familiarity with, the enemies of our country, whom the American forces were contending against, and over whom, under the assistance of a protecting Providence, they finally prevailed, which event was the introduction and establishment of a great and powerful nation.

" Having in the foregoing given some account of the engagements and adventures of one day,-the memorable 11th of September, 1777, -I shall now proceed to give some further account of what took place shortly thereafter. The British army remained on the ground of en- compment at Birmingham until the third day of the week following, being the sixteenth of the month, having in the course of that time re- moved all their wounded that survived to the borough of Wilmington (at that time in their possession), amounting to one hundred and twelve wagon-loada. They on that day commenced their further march for the city, having formed two divisions, one of which, com- manded by Gen. Knyphausen, proceeded by way of Chester, and the other, being the grand one, under the command of Gen. Howe, pro- ceeded direct to the Swedes' Ford, on Schuylkill, which, after march- iog through a severe day's rain, encamped the following night on the south side of the Valley Hill, and around the Boot Tavera, at which house the general had his headquarters.

"The ground which they had lately occupied at Birmingham, heing now cleared and left in a desulate condition, exhibited a scene uf de- struction and waste. Some few of the inhabitants who remained thereon, and some others who were returning to the places of abode,

found it necessary to call in the assistance of their neighbors to re- bury many of the dead, who lay exposed to the open air and ravagea of beasts and wild fowls, having, in consequence of the late heavy rains, been washed bare, and some few of them had never been in- terred. I was one among a number who attended and performed that duty.

"It would be difficult to describe the many cases of horror and de- struction of human beings that came under our notice in this under- taking, but wo accomplished it, though in many instances of a most disagreeable and unpleasant nature. During the performance of it we had a full opportunity of beholding the destruction and wanton waste committed on the property of the peaceable inhabitants of the neighborhood, and on the ground of the encampment. Those who were obliged to remain thereon had their stock of cattle destroyed for the use of the army, their horsea taken away, and their house- hold furniture, bedding, etc., wantonly wasted and burned. It was not uncommon to sce heaps of feathers lying about the farms, the ticks having been stripped off and made use of, and the remains of small pieces of valuable furniture lying about their fireplaces, in the fields, unconsumed, when there was no want of timber and fence-rails, which might have been used for their cooking, etc .; but being in an enemy's country, inhabited by rebela, there was no restraint on the soldiery or rabble which accompanied them.

" Having made mention that the meeting-house at Birmingham bad been taken out of our possession by the Americans in order to accom- modate their sick soldiers, it so turned out that before it could be oc- cupied for that purpose Gen. Howe had the control of it for the use of his wounded officers; and when vacated, and the army removed, friends were at liberty to cleanse and purify it, which was so far done that we held our meeting therein on first-day (Sunday) succeeding their departure ; but considerable repairs were necessary afterwards to put it in the condition it was previous to our being deprived of it. During their occupancy of it several of their principal officers died, and were interred in the burying-ground adjoining, one of them said to be a near connection of the Duke of Northumberland, a young man of the name of Percy."

The question as to whether a Percy fell at the battle of Brandywine has been generally doubted by careful histori- ans, yet there must have been some foundation to the story, and as a partial attempt to explain it, the following state- ments are given :

Col. William L. Stone, formerly editor of the New York Commer- cial Advertiser, made a visit to the field of Brandywine in the year 1831, and published an account of his visit in his paper under the title of " Notes by the Way." This article found its way into many news- papers of the day, and was copied by Watson into his "Annals of Philadelphia." Col. Stone gives the tradition as related to him by persons in the vicinage, that this young Percy, on the march of the division of the British army under Gens. Howe nnd Cornwallis from Jefferis' to Birmingham, on reaching the eminence now familiarly known as Osborne's Hill, suddenly curbed his hurse, and, viewing the landscape, said to his servant, Clifford, that he had seen that field be- fore in England, and in a dream, and that he should fall there; that he gave him his watch and purse, with messages to his friends, dashed forward with his fellows, and fell near the northern wall of the Bir- mingham graveyard, around which the battle raged, about the mid- dle of the action, and that he was buried in that yard. This was cer- tainly the tradition that was current at the time of Col. Stone's visit in 1831.

An English member of the Society of Friends, Robert Sutcliff, pub- lished in England a work entitled "Travela in Some Parta of North America, 1804-5-6," in which he mentions at that early day the tra- dition that a Percy was slain at the bottle of Brandywine. He says, "The ground I traveled on this day was the scene of much bloodshed during the Revolutionary war, it being that part of the country where the battle of Brandywine was fought. My companion was present at the time, with several other friends, who were led forth by the dictates of humanity, in order to lend some assistance to the poor wounded and dying soldiers that lay scattered over the fields, through an extent of several miles. On this occasion the Friends' meeting-house at Birmiogham was converted into a hospital, in which many of the poor mangled creatures breathed their last. Among those who ended their enithly career in this meeting-house were sev-

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

eral officers, who were buried in the Friends' burial-ground. One of these, & near connection of the Duke of Northumberland, was R young man of the name of Percy, whose amiable nad exemplary con- duct under his severe sufferings had procured him the particular regard and esteem of the friends about him."

This was written at a time not so remote from the year of the bat- tle,-only about twenty-seven years,-when there were many living witnesses of the event of the day, nnd which doubtless formed a common topie of conversation.

In the New York Magazine of American History of September, 1879, there is published the "Personal Narrative of the Services of Lieut. John Shreve, of the New Jersey Line of the Continental Army." Mr. Shreve, in 1788, removed to Western Pennsylvanin, where and in Ohio he resided tho remainder of his life. He was a man of in- telligence, and was for, several years an active member of the Legis- lature of this State. Ile wrote this narrative when he was advanced in life. He was in the battle of Brandywine, and in giving a cir- cumstantial account of the events of the day as they fell under his observation, says, " After we met the enemy and tho engagement commenced, n cannon-ball went through Captain Stout, and through & sergeant thnt stood behind him, and killed both of them. I heard that a Captain Ashton, of the British army, told this story after the battle was over. When they (the British) were marching down on the east side of the river Brandywine from Jeffcris' Ford, and in view of the Birmingham Mecting-house, Captain Percy, of the British army, said that the scenery before him was as familiar to him as the scenery of his native place in Northumberland (in England) ; it hnd come before him at the twilight and in his slumbers over and over again, and added, ' I know I am to die here.' The battle soon commenced, nnd Captain Percy received a mortal wound. Ile was taken to the meeting house, and died before night, in the presence of Captain Ashton. The British the next day buried Colonel Gordon und Captain Percy, of the English army, and Captain Stont (above mentioned), of the American nrmy, in one grave."

Gideon D. Scull, an American now residing in England, writes from Rugby, February 5, 1880, saying there is no foundation whatever in fact for the old popular belief that Earl Percy, or some near relative of the name, was killed at the battle of Brandywine, in support of which he gives the following facts :

Earl Percy succeeded his father in 1786, but was summoned to Parliament in 1777, ns Baron Percy. Ile married, in 1764, Lndy Annie Stuart, third daughter of the Enrl of Bute, by whom he had no issue, and from whom he was divorced hy act of Parliament in 1779.

In the register of Westminster Abbey the following entry duly at- tests his burinl there :

" 1817. July 19. The most notable Hugh Percy, Hugh and Earl of Northumberland, Earl and Baron Percy, Baron Lucy, &c., &c., (died) at Northumberland House, Strand, July 10th, nged 75. (Bur- ied) in Northumberland vault in St. Nicholas Chapel."

Earl Percy's father was Hugh Smithson, second son of Sir Hugh, who was third baronet of Stanwick, county of York. Hugh Smithson succeeded to his father'e title and estates in 1749-50, and married Lady Elizabeth Seymour, whose father was Charles Seymour, seventh Duke of Somerset (known as the proud Duke of Somerset), and who was in 1749 created Earl of Northumberland, he having married Lady Elizabeth Percy, only daughter of Joseline, eleventh Earl Percy, who died in 1670, at the age of twenty- six, without male issue. Sir Hugh Smithson assumed the name of Percy, and was created in 1766 Earl of Percy and Duke of North- umberland. He was succceded by his second son in 1786, who died in 1817, and was buried, as before mentioned, in Westminster Abbey.

A glance nt the Percy pedigree in " Burke's Peernge" is sufficient to convince any one that Earl Percy (of 1777) could not possibly have hud any male relatives of his name who could have been present at the battle of Brandywine in 1777. There were, however, several children of the duke's (Earl Percy's father) who were recognized as the illegitimate offspring by different mothers, two of whom were buried in Westminster Abbey, in the South Cross. They were named Philadelphia and Dorothy Percy. The former died in 1791, and the latter in 1794.

They had a half-brother, James Macie, who some years after as- sumed his father's nume of Smithson, and who died in Genoa, Italy, in 1826, and is the same person who left his fortune, which was large, to found the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C. He commences his will thus : "I, James Smithson, son of Hugh, first Duke of Northumberland, and Elizabeth, heiress of the Hungerfords of Audley, and niece of Charles, the Proud Duke of Somerset." So that this James Smithson was well born both on his father's and on his mother's side.

The proud Duke of Somerset received this sobriquet on account of his intolerable pride. After his wife's death he again married, and it is recorded that on one occasion his new spouse, who was also of high birth, placed her hand upon his shoulder. Thereupon he drew himself up in a haughty manner and said, " Madam ! my first wife was n Percy, and she never dared to take that liberty." He was also fond of remarking that he really pitied Adam, "for he had no ancestors !"

One feels inclined to think that there must have been some founda- tion for the various statements and traditions current in the neigh- borhood of the battle-field, and it is not nt all improbable that an il- legitimate son of the Duke of Northumberland was wounded and died and was buried on the battle-ground ; but, supposing there was such a one, his name need not necessarily be looked for among the British list of dead under the name of Percy or Smithson, for many of different names claimed paternity of Earl Percy's father.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 21

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162