History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 22

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 22

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The following additional reminiscences are given by Joseph Townsend, in a sketch of West Chester :

"On the 15th of September, 1777, when the British army was en- cumped at Birmingham, after their late battle there, and their con- templated march to Philadelphia wns daily expected; varions con- jectures were formed by the inhabitants as to their intended ronte, especially by the military. On this account the American light- horse were continually reconnoitring the different roads where they were expected; certain accounts hnd arrived that they were making the necessary preparations. Ooe of the American troop of horse, in the course of their reconnoitrings, arrived at the Turk's Head tavern, nnd being much fatigued from being on duty and the want of sleep, etc., concluded to regnle themselves and horses at the tavern.

" Prior to their engaging therein they determined that one of their number should be stationed on the Wilmington road, on the eminence south of the tavern, near the line of William Sharpless' land, which was in full view of the tavern house, that in case of any alarm of the approach of the enemy the signal might be given immediately to his companions of the troop, which was to be effected by discharging one of his pistole, in order that they might be in readinces to make their escape, provided an nttack should be made.

" This arrangement took place, and the troopers leisurely unsaddled their horses, with their accoutrements, that they might cool and be in readiness for the next excursion. This being done, they were enjoy- ing themselves over some glasses of liquor and conjecturing where the next night was to be spent, and to mocet the emergencies that might be required. Thus was their situation when one of them dis- covered that the person who was stationed below was on full speed towards the house, he having neglected to obey the order given him by sounding the nlarm. They were all at once thunder-struck; the liquor was abandoned, and every one became their own hostler. Most or ull the horses were snddled in an instant, and they prepared for the flight, except some of their enps were left behind.

"They were scarcely mounted before the Hessian light-borse wore in full view, with their long swords nod cutlasses brandishing in the air, making the most terrific and frightful appearance imngin- able, like n set of heroes in an cuemy's country with a prize in full view before them.

" It appeared that the soldier placed as n sentryman to guard the safety of his companions bnd sat on his horse during the time, in the bot sun, and, for the want of sleep and otherways much fatigued, had forgot himself, and continued in that situation until he was nroused up by a little girl who was passing near him, with the information that the Hessians were in sight. This she communicated to him in & low voice, as she was afraid to stop, but burried home with the news, the dwelling-house being ncar at hand. The alarm was 80 sudden and unexpected that he neglected to apprise his companions as di- rected; eelf-preservation was his great object.

"The retreat of the Americans nnd the pursuit of the enemy after

GENERAL HISTORY.

them was now commenced with great rapidity. The road lending to the Great Valley was the course pursued. The former had no time to look back, but the best fellow was to be foremost, without paying any regard to the military order in which they had been trained. The latter pursued the chase with the greatest fury imaginable, and as swift as their small horses could lay legs to the ground, and in ad- dition thereto, to increase the fright, they issued the most tremen- dous upronr by hallooing and shouting as far as their voices could extend.

"The inhabitants on the rond, not knowing tho cause, became much alarmed, especially the females, presuming that their final destruction was at hand, as it had been n time of great commotion and disturb- ance for several days previous.

" The chase continued until the parties reached the top of the hill north of the dwelling-house belonging to John Hoopes, where there was at that time an opening into a tract of woodland, into which the Americans directed their course in various directiona. This circum- stance frustrated the designs of the enemy, and they were obliged to return without making that conquest which they had contemplated, and to join with those from whom they had separated, being an es- cort from the British army to guard the wounded Americans from the field of battle at Birmingham to the old school-house at the Turk's Hend, to be occupied for a hospital for them, which stood at the in- tersection of the Valley and Brandywine roads, the spot since occu- pied by the descendants of the Inte Caleb Brinton.

"On the 16th of the 9th month, 1777, as the British army was on their march from their ground of encampment at Birmingham, where they had lain from the Ilth, after the battle at Brandywine, as they passed by the Turk'a Head tavern, on their way to the Swedes Ford on Schuylkill, they were fired upon by a scouting-party of the Americans, and two of their number were shot dead. Graves were immediately opened inside of the garden-fence near the intersection of the Philadelphia road, and their bodies deposited therein during the time of their march, which was performed in about four hours in the course of the forenoon, a tremendous rain taking place during the time.

[NOTE .- The remains of those men above mentioned were dug up in the summer of 1827, when cellurs were preparing by John W. Townsend for his row of brick buildings .* ]

" The old school-house at the intersection of the Valley and Bran- dywine roads was occupied for a hospital for the accommodation of the wounded Americans who had suffered in the late battle at Bran- dywine; a number of whom died, and were buried in the open space left for the use of the school-house on the north side of the rond lead- ing to Brandy wine."t

The following letter, written by the late Dr. William Darlington, and published in 1845, contains much inter- esting matter in relation to the battle of Brandywine. It was addressed to Dr. A. L. Elwyn, of Philadelphia :

" WEST CHESTER, NOV. 29, 1845.

"DEAR SIR,-When the British army landed nt the Head of Elk, the inhabitants of Wilmington supposed the enemy would march through that place on their way to Philadelphin, and with a view to preserve their property a number of merchants and others sent their goods into Chester County, near the forks of the Brandywine, exactly in the wny of the depredations which they hoped to escape. A large quantity of liquors wss stored in the cellnr of Emmer Jefferis, at Jefferis' Ford, on the very route by which Sir William IIowe and Lord Cornwallis paased with the mnin division of the army. The British soldiers ransacked the house, rolled the casks of liquor out of the cellnr, knocked in the heads of the vessels, and drunk of the con- tents until a great number of them became intoxicated. Sir William Howe took Mr. Jefferis with him as n guide to conduot him towarda Birmingham Meeting-house. When they arrived at Osborne's Hill, in view of the meeting-house, the Americans wars posted on the high ground about a quarter of a mile south of that building, with some

light companies thrown forward into the walled graveyard. The British pushed steadily forward, until, after a short conflict, the Americana gave way and retreated towards Dilworthtown, Sir Wil- liam Howe in the menn time viewing the battle from Osborne's Hill. After the retreat commenced, Howe moved on after the army, taking Mr. Jefferis some distance with him. Mr. Jefferis used often to re- late that when they approached the contending forces, the bullsts from the Americana whistled so sharply by him that he could not refrain from dodging his head as they passed ; which Sir William ob- serving, called out very encouragingly, ' Don't be afraid, Mr. Jefferis, they won't hurt you.' Mr. Jefferis, however, took the earliest oppor- tunity to quit the scene and return home.

"The late Col. MeClellan, of this county, who was a captain in the American army, pointed out to me the position which his company occupied on the left wing of the line, when formed, south of Birming- ham Meeting-house. It was on the eminence immediately south of where the road turns at right angles to the east and west, about a quarter of a mile south of the meeting-house [ Note .- Where Mrs. Bid- die's residence now stands]. He said when the British approached them, a stout man whom he took to be a Scotchman, nod who was evidently under the influence of liqner, advanced recklessly and placed himself behind a little mound, made by the root of a tree which hnd been blown down. From this position, which was within pistol-shot of Mcclellan's company, the British soldier fired, and killed the sergeant, who was standing by Capt. McClellan's side. This, of course, attracted Mcclellan's notice. The American cap- taina at that time were armed with carbines ; subsequently they car- ried spontoona. Cupt. MeCiellan, seeing his sergeant fall, and ob- serving whence the fatal missile come, perceived that the man was reloading his piece as he lay crouched behind the mound, and par- tially protected by it, and determined to anticipate him. He dis- charged hia carbine with deliberate nim, and said he saw the soldier roll over, evidently disabled, if not killed.

"The advance of the evening now caused an immediate retrent. Col. MeClellan told me the last he saw of Gen. Washington that day was in the Wilmington rond, about a mils below Dilworthtown. The general finding some officers there during the retreat, rode up and inquired if any of them were acquainted with the country be- tween that place and Chester. Capt. Mcclellan, being n native of the county (it was all Chester County at that time), replied in the affirmative, whereupon Gen. Washington desired him to collect as many of the dispersed soldiery as possible and rendezvous at Chester the next morning.

"Gen. Washington's headquarters were at Benjamin Ring's tavern, about three-quarters of a mile east of Chad's Ford. He was there, and thereabout, all the forepart of the day of battle. When he as- certained that the main body of the enemy were at Birmingham Meeting-house and engaged with our troops, he was anxious to pro- ceed thither by the shortest and speediest route. He found a resident of the neighborhood, named Joseph Brown, and asked him to go as a guide. Brown was an elderly man, and extremely loth to undertake that duty. He mude many excuses, but the occasion was too urgent for ceremony. One of Wushington's suite dismounted from n fine charger, and told Brown if he did not instantly get on his horse and conduct the general by the nearest and best route to the pluce of ac- tion he would run him through on the spot. Brown thereupon mounted, und steered his courss direct towards Birminghum Meeting-house with all speed, the general and his attendanta being close at his heels. He snid the horse lempt all the fences without difficulty, und was fol- lowed in like manner by the others. The head of Gen. Washington's horse, he said, wus constantly at the finnk of the one on which he was mounted; and the general was continually repeating to him, ' Push alony, old man-push along, old man.' When they renched the road, about half a mile west of Dilworthtown, Brown snid the bullets were flying so thick that he felt very uncomfortable; and as Wash- ington now no longer required nor paid attention to his guide, the latter embraced the first opportunity to dismount and made his escape. This anecdote I bud from my tutber, who was well acquainted with Brown, and hud often heard him relate the adventure.

"Some light troops, belonging to the division which went with Howe and Cornwallis to attack Washington's right finnk, passed by the ford where now is Wistar's bridge .; The Wistor furm was then owned by Joha Brinton. Ile was an eccentric, during little mne, and a furious

# Where Thomas Pierce's drug-store and E. D. Haines' banking- house now stands.

t It is said in erecting the present iron fence inclosing the grounds of Ruth P. Johnson on Gay Street, a military button was picked up, and perhaps preserved, by Samuel J. Parker, which, if so, is some evidence of the correctness of this statement.

# Now known as Sager's bridge.

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Whig, somewhat intemperate in his hahits, and in the latter years of his life (when I knew him well) he was so extravagant in his deport- ment when excited by liquor that he was commonly called 'Crazy Johnny.' When the British companies aforesaid approached his house, he grected them with a hearty ' Hurrah for Gen. Washington !' They immediately arrested him, and treated him very roughly. They threatened to kill him instantly if he did not hurrah for King George. They prevailed, after some time, to make him say, ' Hurrah for King George !' but he immediately added-' Washington !' Finding him ut- terly unmanageable, they plundered his house and took him with them as a prisoner to Philadelphia, where he was detained a long time and treated with great severity. While the British armed ships ' Roebuck' and 'Liverpool' were at anchor in the Delaware, there was great excitement among the people, and some projects set on foot to destroy them. And on one occasion this same 'Crazy Johnny' shouldered his musket, went down to the river-shore, and, wading in as far as he could towards the vessels, courageously delivered his fire, and then marched back again. As long as he lived (which was some thirty years afterwards) he always affected the costume of that day, especially the old Revolutionary cocked hat. . . .

"Some three or four and twenty years ago I was dining with Mr. Adams (John Quincy Adams), then Secretary of State, and happened to sit at table next to Gen. Samuel Smith, who so distinguished him- self by the defense of Mud Fort, and was so long a representative and senator in Congress from Maryland. The general was, as usual, in a sociable, communicative humor, end, finding that I resided near the Brandy wine battle-ground, he was pleased to entertain me with a par- ticular account of his own experience on that eventful occasion. Gen. Smith had command of a regiment that day, and told me, among other details which have now escaped from memory, that during the confu- sion of the retreat he somehow got entirely separated from his com- mand, and, being unacquainted with the country, he was apprehensive of falling in with the enemy. Feeling his situation to be forlorn and perilous, he resolved to take vigorous measures to extricate himself. He rode up to the house of a farmer, who was a Quaker, or Friend, and told him he must conduct him (Smith) forthwith, and by a safe route, to Chester. The Friend demurred and protested against the undertaking. Col. Smith told him the case admitted of no delay, and, drawing a pistol, assured him he was a dead man if he did not get his horse instantly and show the way to Chester. The Friend wos alarmed, and, exclaiming, 'What a dreadful man thou art!' went and saddled his horse and prepared to set out. 'Now,' said Col. Smith, 'I have not entire confidence in your fidelity, but I tell you explicitly, that if you do not conduct me clear of the enemy, the moment I discover your treachery I will blow your brains out.' The terrified farmer exclaimed, ' Why, thou art the most desperate man I ever did see!' The general added that the Friend conducted him safely across the country to the place of destination, and was dismissed with proper acknowledgments for the favor. . .

"Very respectfully, your most obedient, " WILLIAM DARLINGTON."

Further incidents of the battle of Brandywine, by Dr. Darlington :

When the commander-in-chief took post at Chad's Ford,

the widow of John Chads occupied the premises of ber Jate husband, and resided in the old stone house yet standing a short distance northiward from the ford. The old lady had a relative, namned Amos House, who then lived with her and superintended the business of her farm. Some fifty and odd years ago Mr. House related to the compiler of these notes that on the morning of Sept. 11, 1777, Gen. Washington, with a few attendants, rode up into the field above Mrs. Chad's dwelling, and was engaged, with the aid of glasses, in reconnoitring and endeavoring to ascertain the character and position of the hostile forces on the hills west of the stream. While they were thus engaged, Amos House and two or three others were led by curiosity to approach and observe what was going ou. Pretty soon, said Mr. House, some cannon-balls from the enemy's artillery began to drop in the field quite near to

the company thus collected, when Gen. Washington re- marked to the visitors, "Gentlemen, you perceive that we are attracting the notice of the enemy. I think you had better retire." The hint was respectfully and promptly attended to.

Sir William Howe, with a large division of his army, as heretofore stated, had moved early in the day from Ken- net Square towards Trimble's Ford, on the west branch of the Brandywine, and on his way impressed John Parker, an estimable Quaker citizen, to conduct the troops by the nearest and best route to the said ford.

In the spring of 1822, during the session of the Seven- tecnth Congress, the compiler of these notes happened to be passiog an evening with some friends at the residence of old Mountjoy Bayly, sergeant-at-arms of the United States Senate. Mr. Bayly had been, captain of a company of light troops from Maryland at the battle of Brandywine, and learning that the compiler was raised on, and then represented that classical ground, the veteran entertained his visitors by detailing some of his personal observations on that eventful occasion. Capt. Bayly said his company was detached as a scouting-party on the day of the battle, to obtain information and watch the movements of the enemy. In traversing the hills on the west side of the forks of the Brandywine he came to a comfortable farm -. house (afterwards known in the vicinage as " Brag Hill"'), the proprietor of which he soon learned was a namesake of his own and a zealous loyalist. The hospitable old farmer mistook the Maryland company for British, and greeted them with a hearty welcome. He caused a gencrous lunch to be produced for them, of which they freely partook, and Mountjoy kept his aged host in pleasant conversation, with- out in any way correcting his misapprehension. Having got through with the entertainment, the advance of the British column was seen approaching, when Capt. Bayly concluded it was about time for his Marylanders to be moving. He so stated to the hospitable old farmer, who thereupon urged him to remain, assuring him that the ap- proaching troops were certainly good friends. Capt. Bayly, however, excused himself by alleging that the duty of his company was to keep some distance ahead of the column; and so he speedily made his escape from a rather critical position.

The American line that day was hurriedly and rather imperfectly formed on the slightly rising ground some eighty or one hundred rods southeastward of the Birming- ham meeting-house, and facing the same. The extreme left of the line was at the spot where stands the rural cot- tage of Mrs. Pepper [now of Mrs. Biddle], and the com- pany of Capt. Joseph McClellan occupied that position. The British forces advancing steadily and resolutely, the Americans gave way under a destructive fire, and retired towards Dilworthtown, as far as Wistar's woods, where they were rallied by the reserve, under Gen. Greene, and made a brief but gallant stand, aided by the personal efforts of Washington and Lafayette, who had just then arrived from the vicinity of Chad's Ford. Capt. McClellan stated that in his retreat across Bennett's field, immedi- ately south of Wistar's woods, -a field strewn with musket-balls for years after the war,-he saw Gen. La- fayette in that field on horseback, and was very confident

GENERAL HISTORY.

the wound of the young Frenchman was there received very soon afterward, probably while dismounted and aiding to rally the retreating men. The general himself says, in his " Mémoires," " La confusion devint extrême, et c'est en ralliant les troupes que M. de Lafayette eut la jambe traversée d'une balle. A cette epoque, tout ce qui restait plia. M. de Lafayette dut à Gimat, son aide-de-camp, le bonheur de remonter à cheval."

It was now the evening of the 11th of September, and the invaders halted at old Dilworthtown, where they remained, recruiting their energies and plundering the in- habitants, until the morning of the 16th ..

In the afternoon of Sept. 11, 1777, about the time the Americans had retired and left the invaders masters of the Brandywine battle-ground, Sir William Erskine, quarter- master-general of the British army, came, with some of his companions, to the house of Edward Brinton, Esq., near Dilworthtown, took possession of the parlor, and caused his servant to produce some bottles of wine from his bag- gage, when the company sat down, and had a jolly time over their liquor. Edward Brinton was then an aged man, had long held the commission of judge and justice of the peace from George II., and was the respected aneestor of many families now resident in Chester and Delaware Coun- ties, and also in the great West. When the visitors had thus regaled themselves after the fatigues of the day, Sir William addressed the venerable squire, saying, " Well, old gentleman, what do you think of these times?" The worthy patriarch of Birmingham replied, very frankly, " Our people may have been a little rash sometimes, but I do think the mother-country has treated us very badly." "Indeed, sir," said Sir William, "I think so, too; and had it not been for your Declaration of Independence, I never would have drawn my sword in America."

While the British army was resting at Dilworthtown, from the 11th to the 16th of September, 1777, the officers sent their servants round among the farmers of the vicinity to collect poultry and other provender for their own tables. These marauders regarded as lawful plunder everything they could lay their hands upon and deemed worth carry- ing away. The late John Marshall, a venerable and intel- ligent citizen of Goshen township, used to relate that at the time of the Brandywine battle he was a lad of some twelve years of age, and lived with Jacob Yearsley, of Thornbury. Jacob was strongly suspected of being a Whig; the prowling British scouts therefore arrested him, and took him to Dilworthtown, where, it is said, he was tried, convicted, and would have been executed but for the in- tercession of an old acquaintance, a certain Jacob James, who joined the enemy with a company of Tory light- horse, and soon became an active partisan officer in His Majesty's service.

TRADITIONS OF THE BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE, AND RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LOCALITY .*

My grandfather was a Whig or patriot in feeling, but he and his wife, being members of meeting, were non- combatants of course. His awkward position subjected

them to be foraged upon and plundered by both armies. While Washington's outposts were watching for the British advance in Philadelphia, several officers, Gen. Smallwood among the number, took up their quarters at their house, remaining a short time. When the British troops ap- peared, however, the American outposts were withdrawn ; and as the American commander had thrown up breast- works, or at least a battery of guns, on the hill back of Chad's house, it was known by the people that a battle was to be fought there; so farmers hid away everything that could be concealed. My grandmother was within a month of her confinement, and she and the children were sent a mile south west of their home, to Benjamin Lindsay's (after- wards Benjamin Taylor's) farm. The eured meat was hid- den in a recess of the northeastern wall of the house, while the men remained at home, awaiting the clash of arms. My great-unele, Isaac James, then but a stripling, was plowing in the field nearest to the battle-ground, less than half a mile from where Knyphausen's guns, as I sup- pose, opened fire on Wayne's battery across the ereek, whereupon the young man incontinently ran to the house to tell the news, leaving the horses hitched to the plow.

His timidity made little difference, however, for when both armies had left my grandfather had not a hoof left on the place, and even his wagons were taken; of course, most of his losses were by the British, who gleaned the ground last.

The 11th of September, 1777, was a very hot day, as I have often heard my grandfather say, and great num- bers of the Hessians fell while fording the creek in their feints to assault and carry Wayne's position. The history of the battle is well known: Knyphausen was only to amuse Wayne with attempts at a permanent crossing until late in the day, when Cornwallis should have turned Wash- ington's right flank. Accordingly the Hessians had to make attempts at crossing to keep up appearances, which exposed them to Wayne's grape and canister at a quarter of a mile range. Grandmother asserted that great numbers were killed in the water, and many dropped down from ex- cessive heat, and that the farmers for several days after- wards were fishing dead bodies from the water, and burying them and others left on the ground.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 22

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