History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 23

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 23

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For a long time old people dated nearly everything by " the battle of Brandywine,"-it was the universal era of the neighborhood. There was a current tradition that a long and expensive mill-race, owned by William Twaddle, below the battle-ground, was dug by soldiers while waiting for the advance of the British, or by deserters from one or both armies afterwards; and it was further current that Twaddle, by some trick or device, did not fully compensate them for their work.

ALMOST A DUEL ABOUT THE BATTLE .;

After the battle of Brandywine a portion of Gen. Wayne's division retreated across the Valley hill, and en- camped in the evening in the meadow on Christian Hench's farm. Mr. Hench, who was a strong Whig, told the sol- diers they were welcome to take whatever they wanted. So

* By M. Auge, grandson of Moses and Mary (James) Mendenhall, who lived on the west bank of the Brandywine.

t By W. D. Hartman.

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

soon as their tents were pitched and their camp-fires lighted from the fences in the vicinity, forty head of fat bullocks were driven into the barnyard, and the slaughtering con- tinued until a sufficient number were secured to supply their wants. So soon as the skin was taken off a slaugh- tered animal many of the soldiers, who were shoeless and their feet sore and bleeding, gathered around, and, placing their feet on the flesh side of the skin, and doubling it around their foot in the form of a shoe, secured it with thongs cut from the same. A large peach-orchard adjoin- ing the camp was stripped of its fruit, and the next morn- ing every soldier had a knapsack full of peaches. My grandmother was wont to relate that her mother, Mrs. Hench, was occupied in her dough-tray kneading and bak- ing bread for the officers from the time the army pitched their tents in the evening until the next morning at day- break. Observing some commotion among the officers about the house the next morning, she found npon inquiry that two wounded officers who occupied separate beds in one of her rooms were about to fight a duel sitting up in bed, and their waiters were down-stairs cleaning aod load- ing their pistols for the fray. She soon settled the quarrel by taking the pistols from the waiters, and, going to the officers' room, gave them a lecture, ending with the declara- tion that she would not permit such conduct in her house. The quarrel arose from a dispute in reference to the battle of Brandywine a few days previous. Before they left Mrs. Hench succeeded in restoring friendship between them. After breakfast was over a troop of cavalry gal- loped into camp, and immediately tents were struck, and in a short time the army was on the march, and no halt was made until the Schuylkill River was placed between them and the British. After the departure of Wayne's troops, Mr. Hench, supposing that, in consequence of his having entertained the army, the British and Tories might be in- duced to wreak their vengeance upon him, decided to leave home. Collecting his goods, and loading them on a four- horse wagon, and driving his stock before him, he with his family followed the army into the forest some miles, where they remained encamped for several days. Previous to leaving home Mr. Hench took his gold and silver and, placing it in a milk-pot, buried it in one corner of the cellar ; calling only my grandmother to witness the deposit, and telling her if all should lose their lives she, being the youngest of the family, might be spared, and she should remember where the treasure was hidden. About ten days after leaving home, hearing that the British army had gone to Philadelphia, they returned home, finding everything as they had left it saving the destruction of the fences around the buildings by the army.

MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMIES IN CHESTER COUNTY AFTER THE BATTLE OF BRANDY- WINE.

A considerable part of the British army remained from the 11th to the morning of the 16th of September in the neighborhood of the battle-field, the chief portion lying encamped about Dilworthtown, and south of it, on the properties then owned by Charles Dilworth and George Brinton. Gen. Howe had his headquarters at a house

near by, still standing, and owned by Elias Baker. During this time they had a cattle-pen near Chad's Ford, where they collected and slanghtered large numbers of cattle and other animals, and preserved them for the use of the army. Nearly all the live stock in the country for a considerable distance around was taken from the inhabitants. In some instances payment was made in British gold, but generally no compensation whatever was given. The day after the battle a detachment of the army under Maj .- Gen. Grant marched to Concord Meeting-house, where it was joined on the 13th by Lord Cornwallis with some light infantry and British grenadiers. From this point they moved to Village Green, a short distance from Chester, and there encamped, leaving a detachment at Concord to guard the wounded Jeft in the meeting-house, and sending another to Wilming- ton, where there were some wounded. The next day after the battle Washington retreated by way of Chester to Philadelphia, and in a few days Howe continued his course through Chester County towards the Schuylkill, with the intention of effecting an entrance, if possible, into that city.

As it was deemed important to save the city from falling into their hands, Washington resolved to risk another en- gagement; for, although the battle of Brandywine had resulted unfavorably to the American army, it was con- sidered that the British had there gained little more than the battle-field, and the ardor of the troops was unabated.

At that time one of the principal crossing-places of the Schuylkill was at Swedes' Ford, near the present southern limits of Bridgeport and Norristown, and as the British could not well cross lower down, on account of the depth of the water, it was expected they would make the attempt to force a passage at that point or higher up the stream.

On the 15th of September Washington left his camp at Germantown, and with the main body of his army crossed the Schuylkill, and marched up the Lancaster road, with the intention of meeting the enemy and again giving battle. He proceeded to a point near the junction of the Lancaster and Swedes' Ford road, in East Whiteland township, northwest of the Admiral Warren tavern, and encamped his forces between that point and the White Horse tavern, having his headquarters at the residence of Joseph Malin, now belonging to Benjamin Carruthers.

The British commander, having received intelligence that Washington was advancing upon the Lancaster road, re- solved to attack him. The portion of his army which had been encamped in the neighborhood of Village Green- then known as the "Seven Stars"-left that point, under the command of Cornwallis, on the 16th of September, and proceeded northward towards the Great Valley by what is known as the Chester road, by way of the present villages of Glen Riddle, Lima, and Howellville, and by Rocky Hill and Goshen Friends' Meeting-house.

On the morning of the 16th Washington received in- formation that the enemy were approaching by the way of Goshen Meeting-house, and were already in the neighbor- hood of that place.

The two armies moved to positions between the White Horse and Goshen Meeting-house, on the high ground south of the valley, and both commanders commenced mak- ing preparations for action. Some detachments were made

GENERAL HISTORY.

by the Americans to reinforce the advanced guard and keep the enemy in check until the army should be properly arrayed. To Gen. Wayne was assigned the duty of leading the advance and opening the battle. Skirmishing began between the advance of the forces under Wayne and the light infantry at the head of Lord Cornwallis' column, and a sanguinary battle would probably have been fought, but a rain-storm of great violence stopped its progress. A con- sultation was had as to whether the British should be received on the ground then occupied by our troops, or whether they should retire beyond the Great Valley, which was in the rear, and in which the ground was said to be wet, and where, in case of a defeat, the artillery would cer- tainly be lost. Washington accordingly, after consultation, gave the order to move, and the American forces retired, and formed on the high ground in the Great Valley, east of the White Horse, and north of the old Lancaster road, and there remained until about four o'clock in the afternoon, awaiting the advance of the British army.

Col. Timothy Pickering, adjutant-general of the Ameri- can army, gives the following account of these movements :

"On the 11th of September, 1777, the battle of Brandywine took place. After carrying General Washington's orders to a general officer at Chadsford, I repaired to the right, where the battle commenced, and remained by the general's side to its termination at the close of the day. Orders were given for the troops to rendezvous at Chester, whence they marched the next day to the neighborhood of Philadel- phia. When refreshed and supplied with ammunition the army again crossed the Schuylkill River, and advanced to meet General Howe. On the 16th of September, in the morning, information was received of the approach of the enemy. Some detachments were made to re- inforce the advanced guards and keep the enemy in check until the American army should be arrayed for action. General Washington ordered me to the right wing, to aid in forming the order of battle. On my return to the centre I found the line not formed. Seeing the commander-in-chief with a number of officers abont him, as in con- sultation, I pressed my horse up to learn the object. It was a ques- tion whether we should receive the British on the ground then neen- pied hy our troops, or retire beyond a valley in their rear, in which the ground was said to be wet and impassable with artillery, which, in case of a defeat, would of course be lost, except that with the left wing, commanded by General Greene, through which there was a firm road. By this time the fire of the troops engaged appeared to he drawing near. At this movement, the consultation yet continning, I addressed General Washington. 'Sir (said I), the advancing of the British is manifest by the reports of the musketry. The order of the battle is not completed. If we are to fight the enemy on this ground, the troops ought to be immediately arranged. If we are to take the high grounds on the other side of the valley, we ought to march im- mediately, or the enemy may fall upon us in the midst of our move- ment.' 'Let ns move,' was the general's answer. The movement took place. It had begun to rain. The British army halted. Ours formed on the high ground beyond the valley, and there remained during a very rainy day."

The point where the skirmishing took place was on the high ground about one mile and a half north of Goshen Meeting-house, and a half a mile or more a little west of south of the old " Three Tuns" tavern, on the property then of Thomas Rees, now belonging to the heirs of John Parry, deceased, in the northeastern part of East Goshen township. Twelve American soldiers were killed in the conflict and buried there. A few were also wounded, and some prisoners were taken by the British.

The British forces which had remained encamped near the field of battle at Birmingham and Chad's Ford, at the same time that Cornwallis moved northward from the Seven

Stars towards the Great Valley by the Chester road, pro- ceeded, under Knyphansen, by way of the Turk's Head, now West Chester, towards the same point, with the view of joining the forces under Cornwallis. A part of this division, under Brig .- Gen. Matthews, proceeded from the Turk's Head northward by the Reading road to the Indian King tavern. From thence they passed across the farm of David Dunwoody, then occupied partly by himself and partly by his son, James Dunwoody, and encamped on the north- east part of it, near the Ship road, and overlooking the val- ley. It was raining heavily, and they at once took measures to protect themselves from the inclemency of the weather. The Hessian line, under the command of Count Donop, took the road leading from the Turk's Head to the Boot tavern, and from thence north ward towards the Ship tavern. When they reached the South Valley Hill, on the farm of Daniel Meredith, now owned and occupied by his grandson, Isaac Meredith, and were near to his residence, they en- countered a detachment of the Americans, and a spirited skirmish took place, in which a few were killed on both sides and a considerable number wounded, and some pris- oners were taken by the Hessians. The killed were buried near to the dwelling of Daniel Meredith, and the wounded taken to the house of Daniel Thompson, a short distance north of Meredith's, which was used as a hospital. The house, now torn down, stood immediately in front of the site of the present new house on the Ship road, belonging to Rev. Samuel L. Tennis. This engagement, which was interrupted by the rain, took place about the same time as that with the forces of Cornwallis near the Three Tuns tavern, already referred to. The points are about three miles distant from each other. Bullets and other relics of the war have frequently since been found on the sites of both of these engagements.

The Americans left the White Horse about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 16th, and retired northward to the Yellow Springs, about five miles distant, where they arrived in the night. The division of Wayne encamped on the farm of Christian Hench, now partly owned by Joseph J. Tustin. An inspection diselosing the alarming fact that the army was not in a condition to engage in a conflict, in consequence of their ammunition having been greatly damaged by the rain, and that scarcely a musket in a regi- ment could be discharged, the march was continued the next day to Warwick Furnace, on the south branch of French Creek, in the northern part of Chester County, where there was an ordnance depot and some stores for the use of the army, from whence a fresh supply of arms and ammunition was obtained.

The storm lasted some time, the division of the British army under Cornwallis being encamped during its continu- ance along the South Valley Hill, south and west of the Three Tuns tavern, that portion of the division of Knyp- hausen under Gen. Matthews on the farm of David Dun- woody, and the Hessian line, under Count Donop, on the farm of John Bull, south of the present residence of George W. Jacobs. Other forces lay at the Boot tavern, and north of it .* The headquarters of Gen. Howe were at the Boot

# The British forces, during this storm, burned and destroyed large numbers of fence-rails on the properties where they encamped and.

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tavern, then kept by John Bowen, and of Lord Cornwallis, during a part of the time, at the house of George Hoopes, now owned by his descendant, George Hoopes, of West Chester, a short distance north of Goshen Meeting-house, and afterwards at the house of Daniel Durborow, now owned by Francis S. Fiss, about one mile west of the Three Tuns, or what is now known as the King road. All these houses are still standing.

On the evening of the 17th Cornwallis, with his division, advanced to the old Lancaster road, in the Great Valley, and took post about two miles distant from Knyphausen. On the 18th the division under Knyphausen advanced on the Ship road northward to the Lancaster road, and thence eastward to the White Horse, where they joined the forces under Cornwallis on the same day, and the entire army moved down the Lancaster and Swedes' Ford road into Tredyffrin township, and encamped on the south side of the Swedes' Ford road, at the present village of Howell- ville, and between that and the village of Centreville. Gen. Howe, the commander-in-chief, had his headquarters at the residence of Samuel Jones, now belonging to Frank- lin Latch, a short distance west of Centreville, and Lord Cornwallis at that of Abel Reese, now late of Mrs. Reese, near the bridge at the crossing of the Swedes' Ford road and Chester Valley Railroad. The quarters of Gen. Knyp- hausen were east of Gen. Howe's, and of Gens. Agnew aod Grey, near Howellville.

From French Creek Gen. Wayne, on the 17th, was de- tached, with his division, amounting to about fifteen hundred men and four field-pieces, to join Gen. Smallwood, who had command of the Maryland militia, and was then in the rear of the British army. Wayne was ordered to harass and annoy the enemy, and to seize every occasion which might offer to engage him with advantage, and to endeavor to cut off the baggage-train, and by this means to arrest his march towards the Schuylkill until the Americans could cross the river higher up and pass down on the east side and inter- cept the passage of the river by the British.

Gen. Wayne proceeded to the duty assigned him, and on the 18th of September encamped about three hundred yards a little north of east of the present Paoli monument, on land now belonging to Hannah G. Griffith, and which was about four miles in the rear of the enemy, distant from any leading road, and securely concealed, as he believed, from the knowledge of Howe. He established his headquarters at the house of a man named King, now of Robert Hutch- inson, on the east side of what is now called the Sugartown road, and a short distance south of the gate by which the monument grounds are entered from that road .*

those adjoining. After the elose of tho war returns were made to the County Commissioners, in pursuance of an act of Assembly, passed Sept. 21, 1782, of damages and losses sustained from the troops and adherents of the king of Great Britain during the war, from which we learn that David Danwoody reported, among other things, tho loss of 8500 rails; Daniel Thompson, 8800; Thomas Lewis, 8000; Thomas Rees, 9000 ; John Bowen, 9000; Thomas Harris, 2300, and many other considerable numbers. Samuel Jefferis, who owned the property late of Samuel R. Kirk, near Kirkland Station, on the West Chester Rail- road, who made no report, lost about ten thousand rails, and his farm lay unfeneed for many years thereafter.

* Wayne was no doubt especially chosen for this service, as his home was in the neighborhood, and he was well acquainted with the locality.

On the 19th of September Gen. Wayne watched the movements of the enemy as far as was practicable, with the view of attacking them should they attempt to move. On the morning of that day, on the enemy's beating the re- veille, he ordered his troops under arms, and took up the line of march for their left flank, and proceeded to within half a mile of their encampment, but found they had not stirred, and lay too compact to admit of an attack with prudence. In a letter to the commander-in-chief, written at Paoli after ten o'clock A.M., he stated that the enemy would probably attempt to move towards evening. They did not move, however, but on the 20th he received what he believed was reliable information, that the British com- mander would take up his line of march for the Schuylkill at two o'clock on the following morning, and he sent Col. Chambers as a guide to Gen. Smallwood, then near the White Horse, to conduct him to the place of encampment. When the junction with his forces should be effected, it was his design to advance upon the British rear and attack it while in the operation of moving. He had already re- connoitred a road leading along their right flank, and had determined on his plan of operation. To be in readiness for this purpose, he directed his men to lie on their arms, and, as it was raining, to protect their cartridge-boxes with their coats; and that no time might be lost after the ar- rival of Gen. Smallwood, he had his own horse brought out, saddled and holstered, ready for mounting, and his cloak thrown over his horse to preserve his accoutrements from injury from the inclemency of the weather.

He had carefully guarded himself against surprise, planted pickets and sentinels, and thrown forward patrols upon the roads leading to the enemy's camp. Between nine and ten o'clock he received a visit from a friendly citizen of the neighborhood, a Mr. Jones, who had come to his quar- ters to give information that a servant of Mr. Clayton, who had been taken by the enemy and afterwards liberated, had said that he had overheard some of the British soldiers speak- ing of an attack to be made upon Wayne's detachment dur- ing the course of the night. Gen. Wayne thought proper, in consequence, to take some additional precautions. He dispatched a number of videttes, with orders to patrol all the roads leading to Howe's camp. He planted new pick- ets, one on a by-path leading from the Warren tavern to the camp, and others to the right and in the rear. In addition to these, a horse-picket was well advanced upon the Swedes' Ford road; and having taken these precau- tions, he lay in momentary expectation of Gen. Small wood's arrival, to enable him to take the offensive.

Although the British commander did not know where the forces under Gen. Wayne lay, there were Tories residing in the neighborhood who did, and by these he was informed of the precise locality, and of the nature of the approaches to it. He at once sent Gen. Grey to surprise and cut him off, a service of a dangerous character, as Wayne's corps was known for its stubborn and desperate conduct in fight. Col. Musgrave, with the Fortieth and Fifty-fifth Regiments, was moved up to the Lancaster road, near the Paoli tav- ern, to be in a position to aid Gen. Grey if necessary, and to intercept any attempt by Wayne's forces to retreat over that route. The watchword of the Americans for that

BRITISH CAMP AT TRUDRUFFRIN

from the 18h to the 21ª of September 1777. with the ATTACK

made by MAJOR GENERAL GREY

againft the REBELS

near WHITE HORSE TAVERN.

t'hajeurs

StPeters Church

on the 20"of September.

Drawn by an Officer on the Spot.

Engravid & Published by W Faden Charing Craf's July 156 78

Helsinn Grenad'

Stirns Bngade

GRuyuhaufen's Quarters

Finirters

Bald

4. Engade

DA HEAD QUARTERS

Light Injune

Advanad Guard

Reserve

Dragoons

Furt Sher

2.4 Brigade

Col Musgrave

Kennyon

Second Shot f

Rebels Piquer

Main Road from

Lancafter to Philadelphia

Houd to Whiteland

REFERENCES .

AAAA . March of G- Grey's Detachment in two Columns to Attack the Rebels B

C. Light Infantry attacking the Rebel Brigade in Flank .

D.A Party of Light Infantry in pursuit of the Rebels Canons EE which were carried off on the first Allarm . F. Light Infantry after having routed the Rebels .

0. The 445hRegiment supporting the Light Infantry.

H. The 424 Regiment in Referve, following without breaking their Ranks . III . The Rebels flying in Disorder . NB. The Two Regiments under Col: Mufgrave were not engaged.

# CARBUTT, Prolo-Lith 1-la

Valley Crick

Two Miles

TRUDRUFFRIN

Guards

Koud w Moonhall

Ist Brigade

Paoli

White Hoffe Tavern

GENERAL HISTORY.

night was " Here we are and there they go," and this, the tradition of the neighborhood says, through some treachery, was communicated to the enemy.

Gen. Grey, guided by his Tory aids,* as is generally be- lieved, marched from his encampment near Howellville up the Swedes' Ford road, and massed his troops on that road, as near the camp of Wayne as possible without be- traying a knowledge of his approach. From there he moved on up the road to what is now known as the " Valley Store," at the crossing of the Swedes' Ford and Long Ford roads, north of the Admiral Warren. At this point there was an American picket, who fired and escaped. Tradition says the British made use of the American watchword, but the picket discovered they were not Americans aud fired. Gen. Grey then proceeded south on the Long Ford road to near the Admiral Warren, where they encountered an- other picket, who also fired and escaped; from there he cautiously moved through the woods and up the ravine through the South Valley Hill, north of this point, and near to the present Malvern Station on the Pennsylvania Rail- road.

The first intelligence Gen. Wayne received of the enemy's advance was from one of the videttes whom he had sent out in consequence of the notice received from Mr. Jones. Several pickets had been silently bayonetted in the darkness, and being missed by the patroling officer, bis suspicions were aroused, and he hastened to the head- quarters of his commander with the information. The troops were immediately ordered under arms, and many of them were awakened from their slumbers by the cry, " Up, men, the British are on you !" The night was dark, and, being rendered more obscure by the surrounding wood- land, much had to be left to conjecture as to the point of attack.

Having ascertained, however, that the enemy were advanc- ing upon his right, where the artillery was placed, Wayne directed Col. Humpton, his second in command, to wheel the division by sub-platoons to the right, and to march off by the left, and gain the road leading on the summit of the hill towards the White Horse, being the road on which the division had marched two miles the previous evening. The division wheeled accordingly, and the artillery moved off; but, owing to some misapprehension, as is alleged, on the part of Col. Humpton, the troops did not move, although they were wheeled and faced for the purpose, until the second and third order had been issued. In addition to this, only part of the force took the right direction, while the other part took a wrong one, and were brought within

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 23

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