History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 35

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

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WASHINGTON'S RETREAT AND VICTORY AT TRENTON.

At the disaster of Fort Washington on November 16, 1776, York County suffered its severest loss during the entire Revolu- tion. Nearly six hundred officers and men had fallen into the hands of the British and were held as prisoners of war in New York city and at different posts on Long Island. The First Pennsylvania Regiment, in which Captain Henry Miller's York County troops served, had lost heavily at Long Island in August of the same year. Captain Philip Albright's company had its ranks depleted in the same battle.

During this dark period of the war Washington began to show the military genius and self command that soon made - him loom up as the dominating personality of the Revolution. He planned a bold at- tack to capture the advanced posts of the British at Trenton. The militia of the ad- joining states was called out in the dead of winter and in a few weeks he had a con- siderable army stationed at different posts from a point eight miles above Trenton on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware and down that stream to Germantown, a short distance from Philadelphia. He placed Sul- livan at Bristol, a few miles above Philadel- phia, with two thousand troops, formerly commanded by General Charles Lee, who had been captured at Elizabeth while on the retreat across New Jersey.

General James Ewing, of York

General County, was put in command Ewing's of a brigade of Pennsylvania Command. and New Jersey militia with instructions from Washington to guard the Delaware from the ferry at Trenton down the river to a point opposite Bordentown, New Jersey. His force was

The defeats of the American army around New York city compelled Washington to retreat across New Jersey in order to defend the city of Philadelphia. Congress became composed of the remnants of the Flying terrified and removed to Baltimore. The Camp, which met such heavy losses at Long Island and Fort Washington, and recruits from the Pennsylvania and New Jersey militia. Colonel Richard McAllister, com- manding the second regiment of the Flying Camp, was present with Ewing, but having term of enlistment of many of the troops from Pennsylvania and New Jersey had ex- pired, and desertions depleted the ranks of nearly all the regiments then in the field. General Charles Lee, second in command, became disaffected toward the commander- lost heavily in former engagements, now in-chief. Washington fell back toward had fewer than three hundred men.

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Washington took position nine miles above number, surrendered. Of the Americans, Trenton at a point where the river is not two were frozen to death on the march and more than one hundred yards wide. The two were killed in action. British army was stationed in a semi-circle with Trenton as the center of the arc.

Washington's plan was, by a sudden at- tack, to overwhelm the British center at Trenton, and thus force the army to retreat to New York. The Delaware was to be crossed in three divisions. The right wing, 2,000 men. under Gates, was to attack Count Donop at Burlington: Ewing, with the centre, was to cross a short distance be- low Trenton: while Washington himself, with the left wing, was to cross nine miles above, and march down upon Trenton from the north. On Christmas day all was ready, but the beginning of the enterprise was not auspicious. Gates, who preferred to go and intrigue with Congress, succeeded in beg- ging off, and started for Baltimore. Cad- walader, who took his place, tried hard to get his men and artillery across the river, but was baffled by the huge masses of float- ing ice, and reluctantly gave up the attempt. Ewing was so discouraged that he did not even try to cross, and both officers took it for granted that Washington must be foiled in like manner.

But Washington was desper- Crossing the ately in earnest. and although at sunset, just as he had Delaware. reached his crossing-place, he was informed by a special mes- senger of the failure of Ewing and Cad- walader, he determined to go on and make the attack with the 2,500 men whom he had with him. The great blocks of ice, borne swiftly along by the powerful current, The news of the victory at Trenton spread rapidly. To convince the people of what had happened, the Hessian prisoners were marched through the streets of Phila- delphia, and the Hessian flag was sent to Baltimore to hang in the hall of Congress. The spirits of the people rose with a great rebound, the cloud of depression which rested upon the country was lifted, and hope was again felt everywhere. Troops came in from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and the New England men agreed to stay after the expiration of their term of enlistment. made the passage extremely dangerous, but Glover, with his skilful fishermen of Marble- head, succeeded in ferrying the little army across without the loss of a man or a gun. More than ten hours were consumed in the passage, and then there was a march of nine miles to be made in a blinding storm of snow and sleet. They pushed rapidly on in two columns, led by Greene and Sullivan respectively, drove in the enemy's pickets at the point of the bayonet. and entered the town by different roads soon after sunrise. Washington's guns were at once planted so The blow struck by Washington fell heavily upon the British. Even with their powerful army they could not afford to lose as to sweep the streets, and after Colonel Rahl and seventeen of his men had been slain, the whole body of Hessians, 1,000 in a thousand men at a stroke, nor would their

Captain Henry Miller's company of the First Pennsylvania Reg- iment performed valiant services

York Troops at in this engagement. Most of

Trenton. the men in his command at Trenton were the same soldiers who had enlisted at York in 1775, and marched with him to Boston. In referring to the battle, Captain Miller wrote:

"General Stephen's brigade entered Tren- ton and routed the Hessians. Washington desired our regiment to lead the advance, which we did. We formed in line of battle and advanced within sixty yards of the Hessians without firing a gun. We moved with such rapidity and determination that we struck them with terror. The enemy grounded their arms, and 919 Hessians sur- rendered as prisoners of war."

Colonel Miles' Pennsylvania Regiment served in Lord Stirling's brigade and took a leading part at the battle of Trenton in the capture of the Hessians. Miles him- self was a prisoner of war in the hands of the British, having been captured at the battle of Long Island, nearly five months before. In this engagement the regiment was commanded by Major Williams. Cap- tain Albright's company of York County troops had lost thirty men, or about half its number in killed, wounded and prisoners at Long Island. The company entered the battle of Trenton with about thirty men, who rendered valiant services in winning this famous victory.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

prestige bear such sudden disaster. It was aim was taken advantage of and every part clear even to the mind of Howe that the of the road was disputed in all possible American Revolution was not over, and that Washington and his victorious army held the field. Trenton must be redeemed and they determined to finish the business at once.

After the defeat of the British at Trenton through the mili-

Movement After tary genius of Washington,

Trenton. Lord Cornwallis, who had gone to New York, returned in haste to attack the American army. . De- cember 30, Washington recrossed the Dela- ware and took post at Trenton, where he was joined by Cadwalader and Mifflin, each with 1,800 Pennsylvania militia. On the morning of January 2 Cornwallis advanced with 8,000 men upon Trenton, but his march was slow.

As soon as General Washington had pro- cured definite information of the strength and position of the enemy, he sent out, under Brigadier-General de Fermoy, a de- tachment, consisting of his own brigade, Colonel Edward Hand's Pennsylvania rifle- men, and Colonel Hausegger's German bat- talion, with Colonel Charles Scott's Vir- ginia Continental regiment, and two guns of Captain Forrest's battery, to harass the enemy in every possible way, and to dispute their advance as much as they were able, that the impending battle might be post- poned at least twenty-four hours. The Americans posted themselves a short dis- tance south of the village of Maidenhead, with pickets up to the town. The British outposts were about a mile north of Maiden- head. This was the state of affairs on the old Princeton road at the close of New Year's day.

About this time the commanders of regi- ments on the advance lines of the American army, finding that General de Fermoy had returned to Trenton in a very questionable manner, determined to resist the advance of the king's troops without further orders. About 10 o'clock the first alarm gun was fired by the American videttes. Colonel Hand, with his splendid regiment of rifle- men, Captain Henry Miller, of his command being in charge of the skirmish line, con- ducted the retreat to Trenton. Every place which would even for a few moments give shelter from which to take a steady

ways. On one occasion so stubborn a stand was made by the Americans that a check was produced on the British advance. They actually fell back and the patriots carefully pressed toward them. At last, however, the American detachment was driven to the woods running along the south bank of the Shabbakonk Creek, and here a severe skir- mish commenced about one o'clock, and a deadly fire was made upon the British forces, throwing them into considerable confusion.

For a long time this conflict

On to was maintained with great Princeton. vigor, and the battalions of von Linsingen and Block, a part of Colonel von Donop's original com- mand, were drawn up in order of battle, ex- pecting then and there to enter upon the general engagement which they anticipated. For fully three hours the gallant little American force, somewhat protected by the dense woods, harassed the red coats and continually thinned their ranks with musketry and artillery. Right well did they carry out the plan of General Wash- ington to consume the entire day, if pos- sible, in skirmishing and so retard the enemy's advance toward Trenton. Wash- ington was well pleased with the all-day running fight and begged the little party not to yield until compelled to. A battery of British artillery was soon afterward brought into position and made every effort to dislodge the American advance force. Nearly an hour was consumed before the patriot band, unable any longer to sustain themselves, began again to yield the ground and retreat down the Brunswick road into the village, having captured some twenty- five or thirty men during the day. In this way the last determined stand beyond the . town was taken, and as the Americans be- gan to retreat, the advance party of the British, about 1.500 men, again commenced their march in column, the main army being still a considerable distance in the rear.

The advance guard of Cornwallis's army pressed on, driving the Americans before them, and killing some, until they arrived at the narrow stone bridge which spanned, with but one arch. the Assunpink Creek. The detachment of skirmishers which all

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day long had hovered before and around hood, met the foremost column of Ameri- the enemy, hastily, although with difficulty, cans approaching, under General Mercer. As he caught sight of the Americans, Maw- crowded through the passage at the bridge scarcely sixteen feet wide. Colonel Hitch- hood thought that they must be a party of cock's brigade protected these weary men fugitives, and hastened to intercept them; but he was soon undeceived. as they filed across the bridge and took their places with the main army. General Wash- The Americans attacked with General vigor, and a sharp fight was ington himself was on horseback at one end of the bridge, overlooking the scene, and Mercer sustained, with varying for- Wounded. tunes, until Mercer was pierced by a bayonet, and his men began to fall back in some confusion. Just at this critical moment Washington came galloping upon the field and rallied the troops, and as the entire forces on both sides had now come up, the fight became general. In a few minutes the British were routed and their line cut in two; one half fleeing toward Trenton, the other half to- ward New Brunswick. There was little slaughter, as the whole fight did not occupy more than twenty minutes. The British lost about 200 in killed and wounded, with 300 prisoners, and their cannon ; the Ameri- can loss was less than 100. The brave General Mercer died of his wound. by his personal exposure inspired his men with courage and confidence. It was then after 5 o'clock and rapidly growing dark. With the light made by the firing, it could be seen that the advance of the king's troops, entirely unaware of the force now before them, had pressed on until they were within range of the American guns. They mnade three fruitless efforts to reach and cross the bridge, but found further pursuit checked, and were unable to endure the con- centrated fire. The effect of this fire upon them was extremely uncertain, and doubt- less will never be correctly ascertained, as no mention of loss is made in any British official reports. The loss of the American army was small.

BATTLE OF PRINCETON.

Many of the British officers urged a gen- eral and renewed attack, but the short win- ter day was drawing to a close, and Corn- wallis decided to wait until morning. Washington had spent the day with stub- born skirmishing, for he had no intention of fighting a pitched battle with his poorly armed men, inferior in numbers to their well-equipped opponents, who had received reinforcements in the morning. He had checked the enemy all day, and he had now the night in which to act, so he set the men to work on entrenchments, lighted camp fires along the river bank, and having con- vinced Cornwallis that he would be there in the morning, he marched off with his whole army 'at midnight, leaving his fires burning. By daybreak he was near Prince- ton, and moved with the main army straight for the town, while Mercer was detached with three hundred men to destroy the bridge which gave the most direct connec- tion with Cornwallis.

CHAPTER XIV

REVOLUTION-Continued.

Campaign of 1777-Battles of Brandywine, Paoli and Germantown-Washington at Valley Forge-York Troops at Mon- mouth-Major John Clark-General Henry Miller-Hartley's Regiment- Colonel Thomas Hartley.

The American army had been defeated at Long Island and Fort Washington, but through the masterly skill of the com- mmander-in-chief, it had won decisive victo- ries at Trenton and Princeton. In a brief campaign of three weeks, Washington had rallied the fragments of a defeated and broken army, taken nearly two thousand prisoners and recovered the state of New Jersey. By sheer force of military capacity, he had completely turned the tide of popu-

Toward sunrise, as the British detach- lar feeling. His army began to grow by the accession of fresh recruits. Newly organ- ized regiments of the Pennsylvania line

ment was coming down the road from Princeton to Trenton, in obedience to Corn- wallis' order, its van, under Colonel Maw- joined him in the early part of 1777. These

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

included the regiments commanded, by Colonel Thomas Hartley and Colonel David Howe Approaches Grier, of York. Although the term of en- listment of the Flying Camp had expired, Philadelphia. their places were taken by regiments of Pennsylvania militia, including several con- mands from west of the Susquehanna River. Flushed with his victories at Trenton and Princeton, Washington defied the British, and spent the winter in camp at Morris- town, near New York City, then held by the British. Even Frederick the Great, of Prussia, the most famous military chieftain of the day, in a public declaration, com- mended Washington for his successful cam- paign in New Jersey.

Although at one time threat- ened by the invading foe, Phila-

Enlarging the Army. delphia still remained in the hands of the Americans. From December 20, 1776, to February 27, 1777, Congress held its sessions in Baltimore. In consequence of the alarming state of af- fairs on December 27, three days after as- sembling in a three-story building on the southwest corner of Baltimore and Sharp Streets, in that city, Congress invested Washington for six months with extraor- dinary powers. It authorized him to raise and officer sixteen additional battalions of infantry, three thousand light horse, three regiments of artillery and a corps of engi- neers, to appoint and remove officers under the rank of brigadier-general, and take, at a fair compensation, any private property needed for the maintenance of the army.

The British army under Howe remained in New York City during the winter, while Washington continued at Morristown. Early in June, Howe laid his plans for an- other campaign across New Jersey with the ultimate purpose of capturing Philadelphia. He left New York City with 18,000 men and plenty of boats to cross the Delaware if he reached that stream. Washington, with 8,000 men, left his winter encampment at Morristown and planted his army at Mid- dlebrook, ten miles from New Brunswick. A campaign of eighteen days ensued, con- sisting of wily marches and counter- marches, the result of which showed that Washington's advantage of position could not be wrested from him. Howe being too prudent to attack Washington, abandoned his plan and returned to New York.

Early in the same year Gen- eral Burgoyne, with an army of 10,000 British and Hes- sians, was ordered to de- scend the Hudson to New York and thus separate New England from the other states and divide the country in twain. Washington at first believed that Howe would go to the assistance of Bur- goyne, but early in July, leaving 7,000 troops under Sir Henry Clinton in New York, Howe's army of 18,000 men em- barked in 228 vessels and put to sea. Just before sailing he wrote a letter to Burgoyne, stating that his destination was Boston and artfully contrived that the letter should fall into Washington's hands. But the Ameri- can general, believing that he was going southward, placed Putnam in the Highlands with 4,000 men, and with the balance of the army, moved toward Philadelphia, which he anticipated that Howe had determined to capture. July 3, the British army was sighted off the capes of Delaware. Fearing that the river was carefully guarded, Howe moved his fleet up the Chesapeake, and after a sail of 400 miles, arrived at the head of Elk River, near Elkton, Maryland, Au- gust 25. On hearing this news, Washing- ton advanced to Wilmington, Delaware. Immediately after landing, Howe issued a proclamation of amnesty, but few of the Americans sympathized enough with the British to give them much assistance.

BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE.

Meantime Washington's forces were in- creased by the arrival of 3,000 troops from Pennsylvania and adjoining states. He now determined to offer battle, although he had only 11,000 men to contend with Howe's 18,000 trained soldiers. Brandy- wine Creek was in the line of march from Howe's position to Philadelphia. Wash- ington placed his army at Chad's Ford, the leading crossing place of this stream. It was here the battle took place September II, 1777, resulting in a loss of 1,000 Ameri- can soldiers in killed, wounded and cap- tured. The British loss exceeded that num- ber.

In the battle of Brandywine, Washington placed the center of his army just behind Chad's Ford and across the road. In front of this center, he planted Proctor's artillery,

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which was supported by a division of Penn- van's right flank, when a terrible conflict sylvania troops under General Anthony ensued. The artillery of both armies Wayne. Colonel Hartley, of York, had opened with terrible effect, and the conflict command of the first brigade in this became general and severely contested. Sul- livan was slowly pushed back, being over- powered by the large British force, and De- borre's brigade, stationed below him, broke and fled in confusion. The brigades under Lord Sterling and General Conway stood firm. Meantime, Sullivan and Lafayette, unable to rally the fugitives, went to the as- sistance of Sterling and Conway. division. Colonel Edward Hand, of Lan- caster, having been promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, the First Pennsylvania Line, formerly Hand's regiment, was com- manded by Colonel James Chambers, of Cumberland, later Franklin County. This regiment had in line at Brandywine many of the same York County troops who had fought under Captain Henry Miller at Long Island, Trenton and Princeton, Miller Lafayette Wounded. having been promoted to the rank of major. James Matson succeeded to the command of the company. Michael Simpson, of York County, was captain of another company of this regiment. The Seventh Pennsylvania regiment, commanded by Colonel David Grier, served in Wayne's brigade. It con- tained a large number of York County troops.

The youthful Lafayette, whom Congress had just commis- sioned a brigadier-general, now received his first baptism of fire. In order to act more efficiently, he dis- mounted, and while fighting in the line, was wounded in the leg. At this juncture, Gen- eral Washington, with the brigades of Greene, Weedon and Muhlenberg, hastened to strengthen General Sullivan, but they did not arrive in time to prevent the retreat. By a skillful movement, Greene opened his ranks and received the fugitives and covered their retreat, checking the advance and kept the enemy at bay until dark.

Lewis Bush served as major of Hartley's regiment, and some of its captains at Brandywine were Benjamin Stoddard, Evan Edwards, George Ross, Archibald McAl- lister, Robert Hoopes and James Kenny. Late in the afternoon, General Knyp- hausen crossed the Brandywine at Chad's Ford and made a violent attack upon Wayne's division. Wayne held his position gallantly and with his Pennsylvania troops dealt a terrible blow upon the enemy. Hear- ing of the defeat of the right wing, his gal- lant Pennsylvanians who had fought so bravely, were ordered by the commanding general to retreat. In order to protect his men, Wayne left the artillery in the hands of the enemy and fell back to Greene, who protected him from a rout. The militia under the command of General Armstrong, being posted about two miles below Chad's Ford, had no opportunity of engaging the enemy. During the succeeding night, the defeated forces of General Washington re- treated to Chester and on the following day to Germantown, where they went into camp. Captain McAllister was a son of Richard McAllister, of Hanover, who had com- manded the First Regiment of the Flying Camp. Some of the lieutenants of Hart- ley's regiment in this battle were Andrew Walker, Joseph Davis, Isaac Sweeny, Henry Carberry, James Dill, James Lemon, Martin Eichelberger and William Lemon. Of this list, Dill, Walker and Eichelberger were from York County. At daybreak of Sep- tember II, General Knyphausen, with 7,000 troops, drove in the advance of Wayne's division, across the Brandywine at Chad's Ford. General Armstrong, commanding the Pennsylvania militia, occupied the ex- treme left of Washington's army, and was stationed on cliffs, a short distance south of Wayne's position. General Greene, upon whose staff Major Clark, of York, was then serving, commanded the reserves in support of General Wayne's division. The right William Russel, of York County, Ensign residing at Abbottstown, lost a William leg by a cannon ball in the battle Russel. of Brandywine. In this engage- ment he was the ensign for the Third Pennsylvania regiment, and in 1779 wing of the American army, stretching two miles up the Brandywine, was commanded by General Sullivan. Lord Cornwallis, with the left of the British army, crossed the Brandywine in the afternoon a short dis- tance up the stream and came in on Sulli- Colonel Henry Miller and Major John Clark

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requested the State of Pennsylvania to delphia to defend that city from the ad- grant Ensign Russel a certificate due to his merit, and a pension because he behaved as a good and dutiful soldier, and his wound prevented him from receiving promotion. Ensign Russel had served as a private in the first company that left York for Boston, July, 1775.

THE BATTLE OF PAOLI.

The battle of Paoli, memorable in the annals of history, was one of the most im- portant engagements of the Revolution, in which York County troops participated. It ended in the defeat of the Pennsylvania troops under General Wayne, owing to the superior force of the British. In this bat- tle the troops from west of the Susquehanna suffered almost as severely as those from the same region who fought so bravely in the battle of Fort Washington, which took place in November of the previous year. The Seventh Pennsylvania regiment, com- manded by Colonel David Grier, of York, took a very prominent part in this battle. In the Seventh Regiment were the York County companies of Captain John Mc- Dowell and Captain William Alexander. The former had succeeded Captain Moses McClean after he became a prisoner of war in the first Canadian campaign, and the lat- ter succeeded Captain David Grier, when he was promoted to the rank of major, in October, 1776.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 35

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372