History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 14

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150

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On the 8th of December the American army crossed the river from New Jersey to the west bank, and so eager were the pursuing enemy that they came in sight

1 Colonial Recorde, vol. xi. p. 4.

2 Ib., p. 23.

" Ib., p. 28.

4 Ib., p. 30.

but a few moments after the rear-guard had passed over and destroyed the bridges. The English com- mander was so assured that the armed resistance of the colonies was virtually at an end, that leave was given Lord Cornwallis to return to England, and he had gone to New York with the intention of embark- ing for Europe. The hopes of the colonists were over- clouded with doubts. The Council, however, hurried forward the raw levies of militia to reinforce the wasted ranks of the Continental army. On December 11th, Col. Evan Evans, of Chester County, was paid £2 98.4d. for the transportation of the baggage of his company, as well as £2 08. 5d. for flints and lead for his battalion. Col. James Moore received one hundred pounds to advance a month's pay to his battalion,5 and on the 14th, Col. Evans received "1000 dollars to pay his Battalion of Militia a month's wages advance." 6

On Dec. 11, 1776, Capt. Hammon, of the British vessel-of-war "Roebuck," landed Davis Bevan and Benjamin Canby at Lewes under parole, with instruc- tions to proceed to Philadelphia and make arrange- ment for an exchange of prisoners of war. It seems that the schooner "Nancy," of which vessel Davis Bevan was master, had been captured by the "Roe- buck," and he, Canby, and other Americans, prison- ers of war in the hands of the commander of the British vessel, were exchanged Dec. 30, 1776.

The cause of the united colonies seemed, previous to the holidays of 1776, almost beyond hope ; only the most patriotic citizens could bear up against the constant reverses which attended the Continental arms, and it is not surprising that less than a week before the brilliaut affair at Trenton Col. Francis Johnston, in a letter dated from New London Cross- Road, December 21st, should present the following gloomy picture of the uncertainty that maintained among the inhabitants of Chester County respecting the outcoming of the struggle, and their hesitancy to part with any commodities in exchange for Continen- tal currency. He says,-

" I think it my Duty to inform you of the strange end perverse Change in Politicke which hath taken place through a great part of this County.

"Even some quondam associators, as well as conscientiously scrupu- lous men, totally refuse to accept Congress money as payment for old Debts, And there are some so maliciously averse to our support of Lib- erty that they refuse to part with any commodity whatsoever, even the Necessariee of Life, unlese they cau get bard money or the old Paper Currency of this Pruvince. Most of the Tavero Keepers who are friends on the Lancaster Road have pull'd down their Signs, & refuse the Soldiery Provisione or drink-they will assign you no reason for euch conduct; the reason, however, is too evident, they are afraid to receive Congress Money."7

Col. Johnston was not only incensed at the conduct of the people of Chester County, but on Jan. 7, 1777, he gave Council to understand that the appointment of junior officers over his "head" was objectionable; particularly the case of Lieut .- Col. Penrose brought

6 1b., p. 44.

" Ib., p. 50.

7 Peune. Archives, 1st series, vol. v. p. 100; see also 2d series, vol. i. p. 657. Ib., let series, vol. v. p. 125.

THE REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE TO THE BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE.

forth his indignation, but his wrath was mollified when, on Feb. 21, 1777, Congress promoted Col. An- thony Wayne to the rank of brigadier-general, and he (Johnston) was made the colonel of the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment, Persifor Frazer its lieuten- ant-colonel, and Thomas Robinson its major. The term of the Fourth Pennsylvania Battalion had ex-

made a confession, and accused a number of persons as being implicated in the design to restore the royal authority in Philadelphia. Council hastened its preparation to meet the threatened invasion, and on April 3d a hundred wagons drawn by four horses was called for by the Board of War, to remove public stores from Philadelphia to the west side of the pired on Jan. 5, 1777, but it remained over until Jan- Schuylkill. Col. Caleb Davis, Maj. Evans, Col. Wil- uary 24th to allow other troops to be enlisted and forwarded to take its place. It is, however, not to be inferred from the foregoing remark that the Fourth Battalion marched away from the field in a body, for the fact is that the greater number of Wayne's men, being of Irish birth or descent, re-enlisted, under their old officers, in the Fifth Regiment of the Penn- sylvania line.1 Those who did not re-enter the ser- vice were ordered to Chester, where the battalion was mustered out Feb. 25, 1777. On the same day John Evans, of Chester County, was notified that he had been elected a member of the Council of Safety, the duties of which office he assumed shortly afterwards. liam Dewees, and Isaac Webb were designated to hire such wagons in Chester County. On April 21st Coun- cil instructed the committees of the counties of Bucks, Philadelphia, and Chester "to take an Inventory of all the Flour, Wheat, Rye, and Indian Corn, Oats, Beef, Pork, Horses, Neat Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, &c., also Wagons, Carts, &c.," in each county, and make re- turn as quickly as possible, so that in the event of sudden alarm the provender and live stock might be removed to a place of safety. This was the osten- sible reason for this order, but in all probability the purpose was to ascertain how much and where located were the articles enumerated, so that, if necessary, they might be impressed for the use of the American army.

Although early in the year the storm of war, owing to Washington having assumed the offensive, had rolled away from Philadelphia, the Council did not lessen its efforts to place the Continental army in as efficient condition as possible, and to that end, on Jan. 13, 1777, it required the commissioners in the several counties in the State to furnish thirty-eight thousand bushels of horse feed, and of that total, four thousand bushels were required for Chester County. At this time the prevalent idea was that Gen. Howe proposed to make an attempt to capture Philadelphia by water, and this impression was confirmed when, on March 25th, James Molesworth, who bore a lieutenant's com- mission from Gen. Howe, was arrested in Philadelphia, charged with attempting to obtain a chevaux-de-frise and two bay pilots, to bring the British fleet up the Delaware. Not only did he attempt to corrupt pilots to that end, but he strove to have accomplices, whose duties it should be to spike the guns at Fort Island (Fort Mifflin), and to destroy the posts and ropes at the ferries. Molesworth was tried by court-martial, on the charge of being a spy, was found guilty, and hung March 31, 1777.2 Previous to his execution he

Robert Smith had been appointed lieutenant of Chester County on March 12, 1777, which office gave him the rank of colonel, and devolved on him the duties of raising, arming, and provisioning the mili- tary contingent in his district, and preparing the troops when called into service. They remained under his command until ordered to take the field. On April 12th, Col. Smith reported that Chester County then contained five thousand men capable of bearing arms, and he promised to use his utmost ex- ertions to get his contingent in the greatest possible state of forwardness.3 On April 24th, Congress re- quested that three thousand of the militia of Penn- sylvania, exclusive of the militia of the city of Phila- delphia, should be called, one-half of the "troops to rendezvous at Chester, on the Delaware." The fol- lowing day Council ordered the lieutenants in the several counties to furnish men, although the number from Chester County was not designated. Each man was to be provided with a blanket, which was to be purchased ; if that could not be done blankets were to be impressed, but in a way that should give the least offense to the public. The troops from the

1 In Gen. Henry Lee's " Memoirs of the War in the Southern Depart- ment," vol. ii. p. 203, the personnel of the Pennsylvania Line is thus de- scribed : " Wayne had a constitutional attachment to the decision of the sword, and this cast of character had acquired strength from indulgence, as well as from the native temper of the troops he commanded. They were known by the designation of the Line of Pennsylvania, whereas they might have been with more propriety called the Line of Ireland. Bold and daring, they wers impatient and refractory, and would always prefer an appeal to the bayonet to & toilsome march. Restless under the want of food and whiskey ; adverse to absence from their baggage, and attached to the pleasures of the table. Wayne and his brigade were more encumbered with wagons than any equal portion of the army. The general and his soldiers were singularly fitted for close and stubborn action, hand to hand, in the centre of the army. Cornwallis, therefore, did not miscalculate when he presumed that the junction of Wayne would increase rather than diminish hie chances of bringing hie antago- nist, Lafayette, to action."

2 Peons. Archives, 1st series, vol. v. p. 282; Colonial Recorde, vol. xi. p. 197.

3 Penna, Mag. of Hist., vol. iv. p. 84: "The onerous duties of his office were discharged in au active, untiring, self-sacrificing spirit, and much of his property melted away during the war, partly from direct gifts to the army and to the needy families of the soldiers, and partly becanse bis public duties gave him no time to attend to his private business. On one occasion when foragers were sent into Uwchlan to procure supplies for the famishing army at Valley Forge, Col. Smith assisting to load corn from his own stores into the wagon, was urged by his wife to keep enough to subsist his own family through the winter. He replied, say- ing that the soldiers' needs were greater than their own, and continued his work till the wagons were filled and hie granary was almost empty. He spoke with feeling In his latter life of taking, on another occasion, unthreshed wheat to Valley Forge, and being met on his arrival at the edge of the encampment by numbers of hungry men, who seized the ehesves and mitigated the pangs of hunger by eating the grains, which they rubbed out with their hands." Ib., p. 85.

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

counties of Chester, Lancaster, and York were ordered to form a camp "at or near Chester."1 Col. Smith acted promptly, as did the other counties' lieutenants, for May 30th Council notified Congress that the militia called out by the recommendation of that body was encamped at the places named, part of the troops being already there and the remainder pre- paring to march; that as Council had but few arms fit for service, Congress was requested to furnish arms, tents, and camp equipage. On June 11th, Benjamin Brannon, sub-lieutenant of the county of Chester, ap- plied to Council for a cannon, that several companies of artillery had been formed in the county, hence he desired that the men might practice with the gun, and to that end also asked for a few pounds of powder. On the 14th, Council ordered that the first class of militia should be immediately forwarded to camp, and the second class he ordered to march, and the third class be held in readiness to move on short notice. The same day Col. Robert Smith received one thousand pounds to equip the militia of Chester County, and he was also instructed to send to Phila- delphia thirty wagons. This activity was due to the intelligence Congress had received that Gen. Howe proposed marching to and reducing Philadelphia. When the British army, on June 13th, actually made an advance in two columns from Brunswick, the news was dispatched hy Washington to Congress, and being received the next day, prompt measures were taken to meet the threatened attack. On the 17th, Lewis Granow, sub-lieutenant of Chester County, received four thousand dollars to purchase substitutes, blankets, etc., and on the 20th four hundred stand of arms was delivered to Col. Smith. The next day he received a like number each of canteens, knapsacks, priming- wires, brushes, and cartouch-boxes. John Beaton was appointed paymaster of the Chester County militia. On the 21st two thousand dollars were appropriated for paying substitutes in Chester County, and on the 24th a like sum for the same purpose. On July 12th Col. Smith reported that notwithstanding repeated orders only three hundred and twenty men of the Chester County militia had arrived at Chester, and two hundred of these were substitutes. Col. John Hannum was then commanding officer at that sta- tion. The alarm having passed away on the return of the British army to Brunswick on the 25th, Coun- cil, considering "the extreme inconveniency arising from the march of the militia in the time of Har- vest," countermanded the order for the levies to go to camp, but instructed the lieutenants of the counties of Philadelphia and Chester that it was unnecessary to move the second class of militia, but that it should be held in readiness to march at the shortest notice. On July 9th, Council requested the magistrates of the counties of Philadelphia, Chester, and Bucks to re- turn the names of persons well qualified to take an

account of all flour, wheat, grain, and other stores in the several counties, so that it might be removed "in case the Enemy's movements should make it neces- sary," and on the 29th Council appointed John Pear- son, Nicholas Deihl, Isaac Hendrickson, Isaac Serrill, Harvey Lear, and Jacob Richards, to be added to a committee consisting of Samuel Levis, William Ker- lin, and Sketchley Morton, which had been appointed to drive off the stock in the county of Chester on the approach of the British forces. On July 20, 1777, Congress received information that a British fleet of one hundred and sixty sail was in the Narrows, on the way to Sandy Hook. On the 22d, Washington, perplexed as to the destination of Howe, requested that trustworthy persons should be stationed at the Capes of the Delaware to give prompt notice if the fleet should appear in that quarter. In the early morning of July 23d the expedition sailed, but owing to light winds and fog the fleet did not get in sight of the Capes until the 30th, when expresses from both Cape May and Lewes were sent to Council apprising that body that the fleet of two hundred and twenty- eight vessels was in sight. Gen. Mifflin was at the time in Chester, for he signed for and indorsed the time of departure from that place on the dispatch from Lewes. Late on the 31st the hostile vessels bore away to the southward. Gen. Howe, in his narrative, states, " that finding it hazardous to sail up the Dela- ware, he agreed with the admiral to go to Chesapeake Bay, a plan which had been preconcerted in the event of a landing in the Delaware proving upon our arrival there ineligible." 2

On July 9th, Gen. Washington had requested Council to have a plan of the shore of the Delaware River made, and on the 18th that body notified the commander-in-chief that General Du Coudray had produced a plan of a fortification to be erected at Bil- lingsport to prevent the enemy removing the chevaux- de-frise at that place, and the chart would be made of the shore of the river as soon as proper surveyors could be procured. On the 24th the "proper sur- veyors" were procured, for four persons were directed to make " A Survey of the Shore of the River Dela- ware and of the land for about four miles to the Westward, taking in the Great Road leading to the Southward, when they may extend further than that distance from the river, and remarking the several places where an enemy may land and the kind of ground adjoining, whether marshy, hilly, open, or covered with woods, and when there are several heights near each other remark'g their altitudes and distances apart, remarking particularly the several Creeks and streams of water as high up, at least, as the tide flows, and the places where they may be

" George II. Moore, a geotlemian whose assertion on any historical topic is always worthy of consideration, states io his work, "The Trea- son of Charles Lee," that this movement was made by Gen. Howe, at the treasonable suggestion of Gen. Lee, the Engliel soldier who had re- ceived so many honors at the hands of the American Congrese.

1 Penoa. Archives, Ist series, vol. v. p. 321.

THE REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE TO THE BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE.

forded or passed by bridges. Where there are Swamps near the river, or roads, not'g particularly their kinds & size nearly. Passes of difficulty to an army to be accurately surveyed and well described."

Nathan Sellers was directed to make the survey from the Schuylkill River to Christiana Creek, which included all the territory now Delaware County, in which duty he was enjoined to use secrecy and dis- patch.

When the news of the arrival of the British fleet at the cape of the Delaware was received, Council prepared to meet the threatening attack, and as many of the militia were without guns, it was ordered that those persons who had not taken the oath of alle- giance to the colonies should immediately be dis- armed, "and their arms made use of by those who are willing to risk their lives to defend their liberties and property."1 On August 1st the justices of Chester County returned the names of a number of citizens in the county who were, in their opinion, proper per- sons to take an account of the grain and other stores within twenty miles distant westward from the river Delaware, and also persons to provide for the poor who might be compelled to leave Philadelphia in the event of an attack on that city by the British forces. The major part, if not all, of the persons thus sug- gested resided without the present county of Delaware.

Washington was at this time in Philadelphia, and on August 1st, in company with Lafayette,-whom the commander-in-chief had met for the first time the day previous at a dinner-party,-he inspected the for- tifications on the Delaware River,2 and proceeded as far as Chester, from which place Washington, on the date just mentioned, addressed a letter to Gen. Put- nam.3

On Aug. 14, 1777, Col. Galbraith wrote from Lan- caster that he had dispatched nearly one thousand militia on foot for the camp at Chester, but they had neither arms, accoutrements, camp-kettles, etc.,- nothing except blankets.4 Two days subsequently, John Evans, member of Council, wrote from Chester that about one thousand militia was assembled at that place from Berks County, part of two classes ; from Cumberland one company, and part of two companies from Lancaster; the Chester County class " was about half completed, and when completed" would have arms sufficient for their own use, but several com- panies from other counties must be supplied. The quartermaster reports, he says, " that it will be diffi- cult to find shelter for any more troops at this place, all the empty houses being now occupied.5 The next day, Col. Jacob Morgan wrote from Reading that the greater part of the twelve companies from Berks County-two battalions under Cols. Daniel Hunter

and Daniel Udree, comprising six hundred and fifty- six men-had marched for Chester, and by that time were doubtless at that place.6 On the 18th, Col. Ben- jamin Galbraith notified Council that the third class of Lancaster County had marched to Chester, and re- quested that commissions for the officers of the three classes of militia from that county be sent there.7

In the mean while no further intelligence being received of the movements of the British fleet, the opinion became general that one of the Southern seaports was the point of destination, and as the expense of massing the militia bore heavily on the indigent commonwealth, on Aug. 20, 1777, Council called the attention of the Pennsylvania delegation in Congress to the fact that the militia called into service had encamped at Chester, and were still reporting there ; that as it was the season for sowing winter wheat, on which the country largely depended, it would be a relief to industrious people if public affairs would permit the discharge of part of the militia at Chester, "particularly as they were defi- cient in arms and blankets and wholly unprovided with tents." 8

The following day a dispatch was received in Phila- delphia, stating that on the night of the 14th instant the British fleet had been seen standing in between the Capes of Chesapeake Bay. Washington, who was rest- less in his encampment on the Neshaminy, had that very day apprised Congress that he would move his army to the Delaware the next morning, proposing to march thence to the Hudson River, which proposition on his part, notwithstanding the reported news from the fleet, was approved by Congress. The commander- in-chief, however, determined to halt until further intelligence was received, which came the next day confirmatory of the enemy's presence in Chesapeake Bay. Washington at once ordered Gen. Nash, then at Trenton, N. J., to embark his brigade and Col. Proctor's corps of artillery, if vessels could be pro- cured for the purpose, and proceed to Chester; or, if vessels could not be had, to hasten towards that place by land with all possible speed.9 On the 23d the Continental army broke camp and moved for Philadel- phia, through which city it passed early the next day, August 24th (Sunday), marching down Front Street to Chestnut, and up Chestnut to the Middle Ferry, Washington himself riding at the head of the column and Lafayette at his side. That evening the army encamped in and about Chester, and the next even- ing (the 25th) they reached Wilmington.10 On the

6 Ib., p. 530. 8 Ib., p. 536.

" Ib., p. 532.

9 Penna. Mag. of Hist , vol. i. p. 282.

10." Washington's Encampment on the Neshaminy," by William J. Buck ; Penna. Mag. of Hist., vol. i. p. 284. Irving says, in speaking of the 25th of Angust, "The divisions of Gens. Greene and Stephen were within a few miles of Wilmington ; orders were sent for them to march thither immediately. The two other divisions, which hed halted at Chester to refresh, were to hurry forward."-Irving's " Life of Wash- ington," Riverside edition, vol. iii. p. 205. In Townsend Ward's most interesting " Walk to Darby" (Penna. May. of Hist., vol. iii. p. 262) it is

1 Peuna. Archives, 1st series, vol. v. p. 472.

2 Sparks' " Life of Washington," p. 232.

3 Sparks' " Correspondeoce of Washington," vol. v. p. 2.

4 Penna. Archives, 1st series, vol. v. p. 521.

5 Ib., p. 529.

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

morning of that day the British army landed at the head of Elk,1 or, rather, some distance above the mouth of the Elk River.2

The effect of the news of the approach of Gen. Howe's expedition aroused Congress and Council to renewed exertion. The former, on August 22d, re- quested the State of Pennsylvania to keep four thou- sand militia in readiness to assist in repelling the threatened attack. The following day Council or- dered Col. Henry, of the city and liberties of Phila- delphia, to complete the third class of Philadelphia militia, which was ordered to march to Downingtown, while the artillery of the same locality was to assem- ble in numhers equal to three-eighths of the whole corps, which (with cannon) were ordered one-half to Chester and the other half to Downingtown, there to await the commands of Washington. Maj .- Gen. John Armstrong, the veteran Indian fighter, was placed in command of the forces at Chester. On the 26th Deputy Wagonmaster-Gen. Thomas Hale applied to Council for wagons for Gen. Nash's brigade, and the justices of Chester County were ordered to furnish seven wagons, which, if not immediately forthcoming, were to be impressed. The following day the justices were required to send to Philadelphia twenty-five wagons.

On August 29th Gen. Armstrong wrote from Chester stating that matters there had "been that of a chaos, a situation more easy to conceive than describe." He had, however, forwarded at least eighteen hun- dred men, and also, in concert with Gen. Potter, he had formed a rifle regiment of three hundred men, had given Col. Dunlap, who was " not unacquainted with the business of a Partisan," command of it, and it would march to Marcus Hook the next day. The three hundred men, as well as the one hundred and sixty which he would send to Wilmington that day, were not included in the number he had mentioned as already forwarded to Washington's army. He stated that the want of arms was the " great complaint at a crisis like this."3 On August 31st Council au- thorized Gen. Armstrong to buy blankets for the use of the troops, but if purchasing was impracticable to make as equal and moderate a levy of blankets as circumstances would permit upon the inhabitants of Chester County, " confining the same to persons who refuse to bear arms or take an active part in the defence of their bleeding country, now invaded by a

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 14

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150