History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 25

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 25

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).

Extract from Gen. Howe's letter to Lord George Ger- main :*

" HEAD-QUARTERS, GERMANTOWN, Oct. 10, 1777. " MY Lonn :

* * * "The enemy crossed the Schuylkill en the 18th, above French Creek, and encamped upon the river on each side of Perkyomy Creek, having detached troops to all the fords of Schuylkill, with cannon at Swedes- ford and the fords below it.

" Upon intelligence that Gen. Wayne was lying in the woods with a corps of fifteen hundred men and four pieces of cannon, about three miles distant, and in the rear of the left wing of the army, Maj .- Gen. Grey was detached on the 20th, late at night, with the Second Light Infantry, the Forty-second and Forty-fourth Regiments, to surprise this corps.

"The mest effectual precaution being taken by the general to pre- vent his detachment from firing, he gained the enemy's left about one o'clock, and, having by the bayonet only foreed their out-sentries and pickets, he rashed in upon their encampment, directed by the light of their fires, killed and wounded not less than three hundred on the spot, taking between seventy and eighty prisoners, including several officers, the greater part of their arms, and eight wagons loaded with baggage and stores. Upon the first alarm the cannon were carried off, and the darkness of the night only saved the remainder of the corps. One captain of light infantry and three men were killed in the attack, and four men wounded. Gallontry in the troops and good conduct in the general were fully manifested upon this criticat service.

* *

" With most perfect respect,

"I have the honor to be, &c.,

" W. HOWE."

# Sce Remembrancer, vol. v. p. 413.

GENERAL HISTORY.

: Letter of Col. Samuel Hay to Col. (afterwards Gen.) William Irvine :

" CAMP AT THE TRAP, Sept. 29, 1777.

" DEAR COLONEL,-Since I had the pleasure of seeing you the divi- sion under the commsod of Gen. Wayne has been surprised by the enemy with considerable loss. We were ordered by his Excellency to march from the Yellow Springs down to where the enemy Isy, near the Admiral Warren, there to annoy their resr. We marched early on the 17th instant, and got helow the Paoli that night; on the next day fixed on a place for our camp. We lay the 18th sod 19th undis- turbed, but on the 20th, at twelve o'clock at night, the enemy marched out, and so unguarded was our camp that they were among us before we either formed in any manner for our safety or attempted to retrest, notwithstanding the general hsd full intelligence of their designs two hours before they came out. I will inform you in a few words of what happened. The enosis of the age cannot produce such a scene of butchery. All was confusiva, the enemy among us, and your regi- ment the most exposed as the enemy came on the right wing. The First Regiment (which always takes the right) was taken off and posted in s strip of woods, stood only one fire, and retreated; then we were next the enemy, and as we were among our fires they had & great advantage of us. I need not go en to give the particulars, but the enemy rushed on with fixed bayenets and made the use of them they intended. So you may figure to yourself what followed. The party lost three hundred privates in killed, wounded, and missing, besides commissioned ond noo- commissioned officers. Our Joss is Col. Grier, Capt. Wilson, and Lieut. Irvine# wounded (but none of them dangerously), and sixty-one non-commissioned and privates killed aod wounded, which was just half the men we had on the ground fit for duty. The 22d I went to the ground to see the wounded; the scene was shocking, the poor men groaning under their wounds, which were all by stabs of bsyonets and cuts of light horsemen's swords. Col. Grier is wounded in the side by a bsyonet, superficially slanting to the breast-bone. Capt. Wilson stabbed in the side, but not danger- ous, as it did not take the guts or belly ; he got also s bad stroke on the head with the cock-nail of the lock of a musket. Andrew Irvine was run through the fleshy part of the thigh with s bayonet. They are all laying near David Jones' tavern. I left Capt. MeDewell with them to dress and take care of them, and they are all in s fair way of recovery. Maj. Lamar, of the Third Regiment, was killed, and some ether inferior officers. The enemy also lost Capt. Wolfe killed, and four or five light horsemen, and about twenty privates, besides a number wounded. The general officers have been in council for three days, and the plan is fixed, but what it is we do not yet know. Inclosed you have the state of the British army, with their loss at Brandy wine ; you have it se I have it, and may judge of it as you think preper.

"You will see by this imperfect scrawl how many sorts of ink I have written with,-sll borrowed, and the inkstands dry,-as I have no baggage, nor hare had any these four weeks, more than coe shirt and one pair of stockings, besides what is on my back. The other officers are in the same way, snd most of the officers belonging to the division have lost their baggage at Col. Frazer's, taken by the enemy. I have nothing new to inform you of. My compliments to Mre. Irvine and Mrs. Armstrong ; let her know the geners) is very well, and lodges nesr our camp.

"I am, with great respect, "Yours affectionately,

"SAMUEL HAY.

."P. S .- The officers of the division have protested against Gen. Wayne's conduct and lodged a complaint, and requested a court-mar- tis], which his Excellency has promised they shall have. This has brought down his pride a little already."

GEN. CHARLES GREY.

Gen. Charles Grey, the British officer who " conducted" the massacre at Paoli, also distinguished himself subse- quently in superintending the bayoneting of sixty-nine un-

armed men of Baylor's regiment, near Tappan, N. Y., to whom he ordered no quarters to be given, although they begged for their lives on bended knecs. After these heroic achievements he returned to England, where he was dubbed by King George III .- presumably as a reward for his mer- itorious services-Sir Charles Grey, Knight of the Bath. He was created Baron Grey of Howick in 1801, and in 1806, Viscount Howick and Earl Grey. One of his sons became Prime Minister in 1830, and others of his descend- ants have been conspicuous in British annals.

PAPERS RELATING TO THE TRIAL OF GEN. WAYNE.

REQUEST OF GEN. WAYNE FOR COURT-MARTIAL.

Shortly after the 20th of September Gen. Wayne ad- dressed the following letter to Washington :

"Sin : I feel myself very much injured until such time as you will be kind enough to indulge me with an inquiry into my conduct con- cerning the action of the 20th of September.

" Conscious of having done my duty, I dare my accusers to a fair and candid hearing ; dark and insidious friends I dresd, but from an open and avowed enemy I have nothing to fear. I have no other mode of showing them forth to open view than through your means. I must, therefore, beg an immediate investigation by a court- martial. Your compliance will much oblige your Excellency's most obedient humble servant.

" ANTHONY WAYNE."

ORDER OF GEN. WASHINGTON TO COURT OF INQUIRY.

"HEADQUARTERS, TOAMENSING, Oct. 11, 1777.

" The Court of Inquiry of which Lord Stirling is Presideot, t now sitting at the President's quarters, is to inquire into the conduct of Brig .- Gen. Wayne, viz .. That he had timely notice of the enemy's intention to attack the troops under his command on the night of the 20th ultimo; and, notwithstanding that intelligence, he neglected making & disposition until it was too late either to anney the enemy or inake & retreat without the utmost danger and confusion. The President will give notice when the court can enter on the inquiry, and when the parties and evidence sre to attend.

"GEORGE WASHINGTON."

COURT-MARTIAL CONVENED.

A general court-martial, of which Gen. Sullivan was president, was held the 25th, 26th, 27th, and 30th of Oc- tober, for the trial of Brig .- Gen. Wayne on the following charges, viz. :

That he had timely notice of the enemy's intention to sttack the troops under his command on the night of the 20th of September last, nod, notwithstanding that intelligence, neglected making a disposition until it was too late either to annoy the enemy or make a retrest without the utmost danger and confusion.

DEFENSE OF GEN. WAYNE.

" After the expiration of five weeks, during which period the tongue of slander has not been idle, I am happy to bring ery case before & court of whose honor aod impartial judgment I cannot have the least doubt. I.ehall net intrude on the patience of this court by any use- less preface, but procced to answer the charge.

"The first part of the charge exhibited against me, that 'I bad timely notice of the enemy's intention to attack the troops under my command,' is very readily answered.

"I shall briefly notice what these gentlemen call a timely notice. A Mr. Jones, an old gentleman living nesr where we were encamped, came to my quarters between nine and ten o'clock at night, and informed me, beforv Cols. Hartley, Broadhead, and Temple, that a ser- vant-boy belonging to Mr. Clayton had been taken by the enemy and liberated again, who said that he had heard some of their soldiers say

* Capt. Andrew Irvine received seventeen bayonet-wounds in all, one of which penetrated through his company book, which, in the confusion, be had taken up and thrust into the breast-pocket of his cost to carry off. He never entirely recovered, but died, soon after the close of the war, from the effects of these wounds.

+ It consisted of Gens. McDougall and Knox, Cols. Spencer and Clark.

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

that they intended to attack me that night. Although this could not be deemed a sufficient notice upon any military principle, yet I imme -. diately ordered out a number of videttes, in addition to those already planted, with directions to patrol all the roads leading to the enemy's camp. I also planted two new piquets, the one in front on a blind path lending from the Warren to my camp, the other to the right, and in the rear, which made on that night not less than six different piquets. I had, exclusive of these, a horse piquet under Capt. Stod- dard; well advanced on the Swedes' Ford road, being the very way the enemy marched that night. But the very first intelligence which I received of their advancing was from one of the videttes which I sent out in consequence of the timely notice from Mr. Jones, who had only time to go about a mile before he met the enemy. Immediately on his return the troops were all ordered to form, having been warned to lay on their arms in the evening, for n purpose which I shall pres- ently mention. At this time it was raining, and in order to enve the enrtridges from wet I ordered the soldiers to put their cartouch- boxes under their coats. This, gentlemen, does not look like a surprise : it rather proves that we were prepared either to move off or not as the case might require when once apprized which way the enemy were actually advancing. To have made any move previously to ascertain- ing that fact might have been attended by fatal consequences, totally subversive of the views of the commander-in-chief. So soon as it was discovered that the enemy were pushing for our right, where our artillery was planted, Maj. Ryan carried my orders to Col. Humpton und to the division to wheel by sub-platoons to the right, and to march off by the left, and gain the rond leading on the summit of the hill towards the White Horse, it heing the very road on which the division moved the previous evening. The division wheeled Accordingly, the artillery moved nff, but, owing to some neglect or mienpprehension, which is not uncommon in Col. Humpton, the troops did not move until a second and third order were sent, although they were wheeled and faced for the purpose. At the very time this order for the retreat wns at first given, and which I presumed was obeyed, I took the light infantry and the First Regiment, and formed them on the right, nnd remained there with them and the horse, in order to cover the retreat. If this was not making a disposition, I acknowledge I know not what a disposition is.

" Those troops met and received the enemy with a spirit becoming free Americans, but were forced to give way to numbers. The neglect or misapprehension of Col. Humpton had detained the division too long, otherwise the disposition would have been perfect. I was, in consequence, necessitated to form the Fourth Regiment to receive the enemy and favor the rotrent of the others; this Col. Butler and the officers of the infantry of that regiment were concerned in and wit- ness of. About three hundred yards in rear of That I ngnin rallied such of the divisions as took the proper route ; those who went n con- trary wny and out of supporting distance perhaps Col. Humpton can give the best account of. Here I have a fair and ample field for re- criminntion ware I so disposed. I shall wnive the subject, and beg leave to read the ordere which I received from time to time from his Excellency Gou. Washington.

"In the eyes of gentlemen nnd officers I trust that I stand justified for the part I took on that night. I had the fullest and clearest ad- vice that the enemy would march that morning at two o'clock far the river Schuylkill, and in consequence of this intelligence I had reconnoitred n road leading immediately along the right flank of the enemy, with Cals. Humpton and Hartley, and had the men lying on their arms, to move (as soon as Gen. Smallwood should arrive) not from but to the enemy. For this purpose I had sent Col. Chambers as a guide to conduct that officer into my rear, who, with his divi- aion, was expected to arrive every moment from two in the afternoon until we were nttacked, et which time he was within a short distance of our rear, and retrentod to the White IIorse.

" I ehall just put n serious question or two, and then submit the mnt- ter to the decision of this court. Suppose that, after all these repented orders from his Excellency, and the arrival of Gen. Smallwood, I had retreated, before I knew whether the enemy intended to nttnok mne or not, and that they should have marched for the Schuylkill that morn- ing, which they actually did, would not these very gentlemen have been the first to default me for putting it out of my power to nt- tack their rear ? Would not his Excellency, with the greatest justice, have ordered me in arrest for cowardice and disobedience of his re- peated peremptory and most pointed orders? Would not I have stood culpable in the eyes of the world ? Would I not justly have

merited immediate denth or cashiering? I certainly would. What line could I follow but the one I trod ? What more could be done on- the occasion than what was done? The artillery, ammunition, etc., were covered and enved by a body of troops who were rallied and re- mained on the ground more than an hour after that gentleman, Col. Humpton, the prosecutor, had effected his escape from danger, although, perhaps, not without confusion.

" I hold it needless to say any more, or to take up the time of this court on the occasion. I rest my honor and character, which to me are more dear than life, in the hands of gentlemen who, when decid- ing on my honor, will not forget their own."

DECISION OF THE COURT.

. "The court having fully considered the charge against Brigadier- Genernl Wayne, and the evidence produced to them, are unanimously of opinion that Gen. Wayne is not guilty of the charge exhibited agninst him, but that he on the night of the 20th ultimo did every- thing that could be expected from an active, brave, and vigilant off- cer under the orders which he then had. The court do acquit him with the highest honor.

"The Commander-in-Chief approves the sentence."

THE EVIDENCE OF CAPT. JAMES WILSON, OF THE FIRST PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.

"That on the night of the 29th Sept" Genl. Wayne Personally plnced me With the Light Infantry, his orders to me Was, Stand like : a Breve Soldier and Give them fire. his Orders I Obey'd as Long as Possible, but the Enimy being too numereus forsd me to Give Way to the middle Fence, Where I Rallied about Thirty men and Gave them the Last Fire.

"JA. WILSON, "Capt. 1st Regt."

On the back, in the handwriting of Lord Stirling, are the following questions and answers,- L-

"Q. What distance was the Light Infantry advanced from ye right of ye Division when you received the enemy ?"

" A. 300 yards.

"Q. How long was ye placed to oppose the Enemy before they came to you at Firing distance ?

" A. About 8 minutes, & then not above a rod distance."

CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAS- SACRE.

The monument thus erected having, in the lapse of years, become very much injured and defaced by relic hunters, and being no longer a fitting memorial to the heroic dead, steps were taken to procure the erection of a new one, and on September 20, 1877, the one hundredth anniversary of the massacre, the new one, built under the auspices of the military of Chester and Delaware Counties, aided by mauy citizens, was dedicated with appropriate military honors.

The 20th of September, 1877, was a day which will long live in the annals of Chester County. The sky was un- clouded, and the balmy air seemed to invite the people to turn out in holiday garb and greet each other upon the his- torie field of Paoli. At an early hour they began to gather from all directions, in carriages, on horseback, and on foot ; military and eivic processions paraded into the grounds to the music of bands and drum corps, and the numerous trains on the West Chester and Pennsylvania Railroads added their quota to the moving tide of humanity, until, as the hour approached for the commencement of the exercises, the grounds seemed to be literally covered with people. There was such an assemblage as had never before convened on the soil of Chester County. The number present was variously estimated at from eight to ten thousand persons.

While on the dedication of the first monument, on the fortieth anniversary, September 11, 1817, Col. Isaac,

CASKEY.

ENG

RESIDENCE OF J. W. NIVIN.

RESIDENCE OF AMOS PUGH EAST NOTTINGHAM CHESTER CO. PA.

GENERAL HISTORY.

Wayne, a son of Gen. Anthony Wayne, was present and participated in the ceremonies, so on this occasion, the one hundredth anniversary, the day and event were hon- ored in the presence of Capt. William Wayne, a great- grandson of Chester County's brave and gallant. hero, Anthony Wayne, a gentleman who, inheriting the military qualities of his noble ancestor, was himself an officer in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion of 1861-65.

The monument is of Quincy granite, twenty-two feet and a half in height, chaste and rich, and impressive in its sim- plicity. A square pedestal of rugged granite supports a sub-base of similar material but smaller proportions; on this rests the die with its inscriptions, from which springs upward a plain granite shaft, the whole making a well-pro- portioned obelisk. On the west face of the shaft is cut in bold letters the word " Paoli," while the polished die bears the following inscriptions :

West side :

" Sacred to the memory of the PATRIOTS who on this spot fell a sacrifice to British barbarity `during the struggle for AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, on the night of the 20th of September, 1777."

North side :

" THE ATROCIOUS MASSACRE which thie stone commemoratee was perpetrated by British troops under the immediate command of MAJOR-GENERAL GREY."

South side :

" Here repose the remains of fifty-three AMERICAN SOLDIERS, who were the vietims of cold-blooded cruelty in the well known " MASSACRE AT THE PAOLI," while under the command of GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE, an officer whose military conduct, bravery und humanity, were equally conspicuous throughout the REVOLUTIONARY WAR."

East side :

"Erected by the citizens of Chester and Delaware counties, September 20, 1877, being THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY of the Paoli Massacre. The other inscriptions on this monument are copied from the memorial stone formerly standing here, which was erected hy the Republican Artillerists, and other citizens of Chester County, September 20, 1817."

These inscriptions (except that on the east side), taken from the old monument, were written by Dr. William Dar- lington, who was the master-spirit on the occasion of its erection in 1817.

PADLI

PAOLI MONUMENT.

The monument is built upon a mound of about three feet, giving it an elevation of twenty-five feet. On the south end of the mound stands the old monument, erected in 1817, which is preserved as a relic of the past. It is nine feet in height, has a base of blue marble and pedestal of white marble, upon which are the inscriptions as above mentioned. The stone wall was removed, and the whole plot is surrounded by a wrought iron picket-fence five feet high.

When the corner-stone of the new monument was laid a copper box was placed at its base, containing the following articles :

1. Original subscription list, dated July 4, 1875, with the name of projector of monument and the subscriptions obtained on that day. :

2. Address on monument project to the citizens of Chester County.

3. List of contributors.

4. Specifications and contract.

5. Officers of the day.

6. Large handhill of dedication ceremonies.

7. Portrait of Gen. Anthony Wayne.

8. Chester and Delaware County newspapers.

9. Names of President and Vice-President of the United States.

10. Name of the Governor of Pennsylvania.

11. Names of county officers, with their signatures.

12. Confederate money,-$50, $20, $5, $1.

13. Specimens of colonial and Continental money.

14. Likenesses of President and Vice-President of United States.

15. Ticket of admission to the counting of the electoral vote, 1877, House of Representatives, signed by T. W. Ferry, President of Senate, and Samuel J. Randall, Speaker of House.

16. Silver coins, as follows : trade dollar, ordinary dollar, half-dol- lar, quarter-dollar, dime, and two three-cent pieces ; five-cent nickel, two-cent picce, one-cent-piece, old copper penny, and half-penny, copper.

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Governor John F. Hartranft and staff, with other gentle- men, arrived by an early train, and were escorted to the resi- dence of Capt. William Wayne, where a bountiful breakfast had been provided.

After breakfast the whole party, preceded by the Wash- ington Troop, repaired to the monument grounds, and were met at the western entrance by Col. Alfred Rupert, the chief marshal of the day, and his aides, and as the proces- sion moved across the field the military organizations were drawn in line to receive the Governor, and presented an imposing sight. A Governor's salute of seventeen guns was fired by the Griffen Battery.

At twelve o'clock the meeting, which was held in the grove immediately west of and near the monument, was organized by Dr. Wood, who named the following officers :

President .- Hon. Washington Townsend.

Vice-Presidents .- Capt. Wm. Wayne, John D. Evans, Dr. John R. Hoskins, Jesse Matlack, Abraham Fetters, Jr., Isaac W. Vanleer, Gen. George Hartman, Dr. Jacob Rickabangh, Chandler Phillips, Col. F. R. Speakman, John McWilliams, Evans Rogers, Robert E. Monaghan, Esq., Col. N. M. Ellis, John O. K. Robarts, Jobn P. Thornbury, Edwin Otley, Hon. William Ward, James M. Wilcox, Dr. J. L. Forwood, Charles D. Manley, Esq., David Ruth, Esq., Tryon Lewis, Dr. George Smith, P. Frazer Smith, Esq., David Ramsay, John Irey, Matthew Barker, Hon. Jesse C. Dickey, Capt. Samnel Holman, J. Lacey Darlington, Harmon Bond, Wm. T. Shafer, Hon. J. M. Broomall, Robert L. Mcclellan, Nimrod Strickland, Welling- ton Hickman, W. Cooper Talley.

Secretaries .- Maj. A. C. Fulton, R. Jones Monaghan, W. W. Thom- son, Thomas V. Cooper, William W. Polk, William H. Hodgson, Bar- ton D. Evans, W. I. Kauffman, Henry L. Brinton, John Miller, Edward B. Moore, Ezra Evans, Vosburg Schaeffer.

The exercises were then conducted in the following order :

1. Delivery of monument by Mr. Van Gunden, on behalf of Messrs. Van Gunden, Young & Drumm, of Philadelphia, the contractors, to the committee.

2. Reception of the same, on behalf of the committee, by Capt. Robert T. Cornwell.

3. Presentation of monument hy Dr. Wood, on behalf of the com- mittee, to the president for dedication.

4. Address of Hon. Washington Townsend at dedication.

5. Unveiling of monument by Dr. Wood:

6. National salute of thirty-eight guns by Griffen Battery.

7. Prayer by Rev. Joseph S. Evans.

8. Historical address by J. Smith Futhey, Esq.

9. Oration by Hon. Wayne MacVeagh.

10. Benediction by Rev. Mr. Elliott.

At the conclusion of the foregoing programme, the mili- tary and citizens formed in line, and to the solemn music of the bands and the low roll of the muffled drums marched slowly around the monument. It was a very impressive ceremony.

The order of march was as follows :

Gen. John R. Dobson and Staff. Col. Alfred Rupert and Aides. Washington Troop, of Glenloch, Chester County, Capt. Wilson M. Matlack. Griffen Battery, of Phoenixville and West Chester, Capt. John Denithorne.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 25

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