OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WITH A SUMMARY VIEW OF THE STATE AND CHARACTER OF THE BRITISH COLONIES OF NORTH AMERICA. ! BY JOHN LENDRUM. NEW EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED. VOL. II. EXETER: PUBLISHED BY J. AND B. WILLIAMS. 1836. 2-13-28 HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. CHAPTER X. Congress and General Washington alarmed at the loss of Ticonderoga-Fleet arrives in the Chesapeak—Army lands at Turkey Point-General Washington advances to the relief of Philadelphia-Battle at Brandywine-Reflections on the Battle-Congress flee to Yorktown-Philadelphia taken-Battle at Germantown-Passage of the Delaware opened to Philadelphia-General Howe's ef forts to bring the Americans to a general action fruitless -Winters in Philadelphia-Americans encamp in Huts at Valley Forge during the Winter-Invention of the American Turtle, and Battle of the Kegs-Reflections on the Campaign. GENERAL WASHINGTON having heard that the British fleet had put out to sea,after having looked into the Delaware, was confirmed in the opinion he had formerly entertained, that the whole was a feint, calculated to draw the American army farther from the North River, so as to prevent their being at hand to oppose a junction between Howe and Burgoyne. With this view, the American general took a middle station; from which he could speedily return to the North River, or advance to the relief of Philadelphia. Whilst both general Washington and congress were sufficiently engaged, by their attention to the movements, and apprehensions of the designs, of the powerful fleet and army which was conducted by the brother generals and commissioners, they were alarmed with the news of general Burgoyne's success on the Lakes and the abandonment of Ticonderoga by general St. Clair; which will be hereafter related in the account of the northern campaign. These were events, so unexpected, that they could not fail to perplex their counsels, and impede their defensive preparations in other parts. Congress, however, behaved with great firmness in this exigency. They directed general Washington to appoint other commanders, and to summon such numbers of the militia from the eastern and central provinces, as he should deem sufficient for restraining the progress of the enemy. The British fleet, after leaving the capes of Delaware; were not heard of for near three weeks, except that they had been seen once or twice steering sonthwardly. It was therefore concluded that the object of the British was Charleston, in S. Carolina, and, as the army could not march in time for its relief, it was resolved to attempt something on New York Island, or, by uniting with the northern army, to give more effectual opposition to Burgoyne; whose affairs at this time were in a most prosperous train, as will be hereafter described. Conformably to this system, a small change of position took place. The day before this resolution was adopted, the British fleet had entered the Chesapeak; and intelligence thereof reached the American army in a few days. The troops were now put in motion to meet the British army. Every appearance of confidence was assumed by them as they passed through Philadelphia, that the citizens might be intimidated from joining the British; and a number of the principal inhabitants, suspected of disaffection to the American cause, were taken into custody, and sent to Virginia. Sir William Howe, soon after he had landed his troops in Maryland, put forth a declaration, in which he informed the inhabitants, that he had issued the strictest orders to the troops, " for the preservation of regularity and good discipline, and that the most exemplary punishment should be inflicted upon those who should dare to plunder the property or molest the persons of any of his majesty's well disposed Sept. 3. subjects." The royal army set out from the eastern heads of the Chesapeake on the 3d of September, leaving their tents and baggage behind, and trusted their future accommodations to such quarters as their arms might procure. They advanced till they were within two miles of the American army, which was then posted near Newport. General Washington soon changed the position, and took post on the high ground near Chadd's Ford, on Brandywine Creek, with an intention of disputing the passage. His army consisted of 14,000 men, but the real effective force that could be brought into action did not exceed 8000; that of the British amounted to 16,000, when they left New York; but although the whole of these were not brought into action, the British were still superior in number to the provincials. General Washington was in a manner obliged to risk an action for the defence of Philadelphia. The opinion of the inhabitants, though founded on no circumstances more substantial than their wishes, imposed this species of necessity. Sept. 11. A general action was therefore hazarded. On the 11th of September, at day break, the British army advanced in two columns. The right under general Knyphausen, marched directly to Chadd's Ford, which lay in the centre of the American lines, where they expected the principal attack, their right and left covering some less practicable fords for several miles on either hand. A heavy cannonade commenced about 10 o'clock on both sides, and repeated dispositions for passing the ford were made by the British general in order to deceive the Americans. This feint had the desired effect. The American general, supposing the whole force of the royal army to be in his front, detached large parties across the river to impede or frustrate this design, and kept up a continual series of skirmishes with the British troops, sometimes advancing, and at others obliged to retreat, until at last they were obliged to retreat with considerable loss. In the mean time lord Cornwallis, at the head of the second column, took a large circuit to the left, until he gained the forks of the Brandywine, where, from the division of the river, it could be more easily forded. Having accordingly passed both branches about two in the afternoon, he took the shortest road down the river, in order to fall upon the right flank of the provincials. General Washington having been apprised of this movement, about two hours before, endeavored as well as he could to provide against its effect, by detaching general Sullivan, with as many troops as he could spare, to oppose Cornwallis. This task was executed with great military skill. General Sullivan posted his troops in the strong grounds above Birmingham church, his flanks being covered with very thick woods, and his front with artillery very advantageously disposed. The ardor of the British and Hessian troops, however, overthrew every obstacle. The action began about 4 o'clock, and the Americans, after a spirited opposition, were driven from their posts, and pursued into the woods in their rear. Considerable resistance was made by a part of the right wing, which had not been broken. These took another strong position in a wood, and were not dislodged for some time. As the main and collected body of the British army continued to advance, they fell in with a strong party of the provincials which had not been engaged. These had posted themselves advantageously, in order to cover that wing of the army which had been defeated, and maintained their ground so vigorously, that they could not be driven from it before the night was considera |