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he waited for re-enforcements. The British destroyed 18 houses, 1777. 800 barrels of pork and beef, 800 barrels of flour, 2000 bushels of grain, and 1700 tents. Generals Wooster, Arnold, and Silliman, hastily collecting several hundred of the inhabitants, proceeded that night through a heavy rain to Bethel, about eight miles from Danbury. The next morning they divided their troops; and general Wooster with about 300 men fell in their rear, while Arnold with about 500, by a rapid movement, took post in their front at Ridgefield.

ter killed.

Wooster, coming up with them about eleven in the morning, at- April 27. tacked them with great gallantry. A sharp skirmish ensued, in Gen. Wooswhich he was mortally wounded, and his troops were compelled to give way. The enemy proceeded to Ridgefield, where Arnold, who had barricaded the road, warmly disputed the passage; but, after a skirmish of nearly an hour, being compelled to give way, he retreated to Saugatuck, about three miles east of Norwalk. The royalists, having remained that night at Ridgefield, set fire to the place, and early next morning resumed their march. Arnold met them again about eleven, and a continued skirmishing was kept up until five in the afternoon, when, on their making a stand at a hill near their ships, the Americans charged them with intrepidity, but were repulsed and broken: The enemy immediately re-embarked for New York. Their killed, wounded, and missing, amounted to about 170; the loss of the Americans was not admitted to exceed 100.1

This predatory excursion was not long after retaliated. A quantity of provisions had been deposited at Sagg Harbour, on the eastern end of Long Island, and confided to a schooner with 12 guns, and a company of infantry. General Parsons, who commanded a few of the Connecticut recruits at New Haven, conceiving it practicable to surprise this small post and some others not very distant from it, intrusted the execution of his plan to lieutenant colonel Meigs, a very enterprising and gallant officer, who had distinguished himself in the attempt on Quebec. On

1 David Wooster was born at Stratford in Connecticut, in 1711, and educated at Yale College. Having, from the time of the war with Spain in 1739 to the French war in 1755, risen through the several military gradations to the rank of colonel; at the commencement of the revolutionary war he was appointed to the chief command of the troops in the service of Connecticut, and made a brigadier general in the continental service; but this commission he afterward resigned. In 1776, he was appointed the first major general of the militia in Connecticut; and fell while bravely fighting at their head. Congress resolved, that a monument should be erected to his memory.-General Arnold behaved with his usual gallantry on this occasion. In the skirmish at Ridgefield, his horse was shot under him; and while he was extricating himself, a soldier advanced to run him through with a bayonet, but he shot him dead with his pistol, and made his escape. Congress resolved, that a horse, properly caparisoned, should be presented to him.

of colonel

1777. the 23d of May, he embarked at Guilford with about 170 men, on board 13 whale boats, and proceeded, under convoy of two Expedition armed sloops, across the Sound to the north division of the island near Southhold. A small foraging party, against which the exMeigs to L. Island. pedition was in part directed, having left this place for New York, the boats were immediately conveyed across the land, about 15 miles, into a bay, by which the east end of Long Island is deeply intersected, where the troops re-embarked, and, crossing the bay, landed at two in the morning about 4 miles from Sagg Harbour. This place they completely surprised, and carried with charged bayonets. A division of the detachment at the same time burned 12 vessels, with the forage which had been collected for the supply of the British army. Six of the enemy were killed, and 90 captured. Colonel Meigs returned to Guilford with his prisoners, without the loss of a single man.1

Sir William

ceeds

up the

Marches for Philadelphla.

Sir William Howe, having in vain attempted to entice or proHowe pro- voke general Washington to an engagement, had, in June, retired Chesapeak, with his army from the Jerseys to Staten Island. After keeping the American general in long and perplexing suspense concerning his intended operations, he at length sailed from Sandy Hook with about 16,000 men; entered Chesapeak Bay; and on the 24th of August arrived at the head of Elk river. Generals Grant and Knyphausen having joined him on the 8th of September with the troops under their command, the whole army moved onward in two columns toward Philadelphia, the possession of which was now discovered to be the object of the British commander. General Washington, who regulated his movements by those of the enemy, had by this time with the whole American army, excepting the light infantry which remained on the lines, taken a position behind Red clay Creek, on the road leading directly from the enemy's camp to Philadelphia. The British boldly advanced until they were within two miles of the Americans. General Washington, on reconnoitring their situation, apprehending their object to be to turn his right, and, suddenly crossing the Brandywine, to seize the heights on the north side of that river and cut off his communication with Philadelphia, changed his position early in the night of the 8th of September, crossed the Brandywine, and the next morning took post behind that river, on the height near Chadd's Ford.2

1 His return to Guilford was in 25 hours after his departure for Long Island; during which time he with his gallant party traversed a space not less than 90 miles. Congress ordered an elegant sword to be presented to colonel Meigs for his good conduct on this expedition.

2 The Brandywine is a small stream that empties itself at Wilmington into Christina Creek, near its confluence with the Delaware. General Knox, in a letter concerning the battle, says it was "about 30 miles from Philadelphia."

Brandy

At day break on the morning of the eleventh, the royal army 1777. advanced in two columns, the one commanded by lieutenant general Knyphausen, and the other by lord Cornwallis. While Sept. 11. the first column took the direct road to Chadd's Ford, and made Battle of a show of passing it in front of the main body of the Americans, wine. the other moved up on the west side of the Brandywine to its fork, crossed both its branches about two in the afternoon, and marched down on its eastern side with the view of turning the right wing of their adversaries. General Washington, on receiving intelligence of their approach, made the proper disposition to receive them. The divisions commanded by Sullivan, Stirling, and Stephen, advanced a little farther up the Brandywine, and fronted the column of the approaching enemy; Wayne's division, with Maxwell's light infantry, remained at Chadd's Ford, to keep Knyphausen in check; Green's division, accompanied by general Washington, formed a reserve, and took a central position between the right and left wings. The divisions detached against Cornwallis, took possession of the heights above Birmingham church, their left reaching toward the Brandywine; the artillery was judiciously placed, and their flanks were covered by woods. About four o'clock, lord Cornwallis formed the line of battle, and began the attack. The Americans sustained it for some time with intrepidity; but their right at length giving way, the remaining divisions, exposed to a galling fire on the flank, continued to break on the right, and the whole line was soon completely routed. As soon as Cornwallis had commenced his attack, Knyphausen crossed the ford, and attacked the troops posted for its defence; which, after a severe conflict, were compelled to give way. The retreat of the Americans, which soon became general, was continued that night to Chester, and the next day to Philadelphia. The loss, sustained by the Americans in this action, is estimated at 300 killed, and 600 wounded.1 Between 300 and 400, principally the wounded, were made prisoners. The loss of the British was stated to be rather less than 100 killed, and 400 wounded. As the British were advancing toward Goshen to gain the Lancaster road, dispositions were again made for battle, on the 16th, by both armies; but a heavy rain separated the advanced parties, which had begun to skirmish, and its increasing violence soon obliged the Americans to retreat. General Washington on the 19th crossed the Schuyl

1

Among the wounded were two general officers; the marquis de la Fayette, and general Woodford. The first of these was a French nobleman, who, at the age of 19 years only, left France, and offered his services to congress, which gave him the rank of major general in their army. Count Pulaski, a Polish nobleman, fought also with the Americans in this battle.

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1777. kill, and encamped on the eastern banks of that river; while detachments of his army were posted at the several fords, over which the enemy would probably attempt to force a passage.

defeated.

Sept. 20. In the night of the 20th, general Wayne, who with 1500 men General had concealed himself in the woods on the left of the British Wayne surprised and army with the intention of harassing their rear, was surprised by major general Gray. The British general, proceeding on the expedition with secrecy and despatch, gave strict orders that bayonets only should be used, and that not a gun should be fired. The loss of the Americans in killed, wounded, and prisoners, is supposed to have been about 300 men. The loss of the enemy was merely one officer killed, and seven privates killed and wounded.

27.

The British

On the 23d of September, Sir William Howe, having secured take posses- the command of the Schuylkill, crossed it with his whole army; sion of Phi- on the 26th, he advanced to Germantown; and on the succeeding day lord Cornwallis, at the head of a strong detachment, took peaceable possession of Philadelphia.

ladelphia.

General Washington with his army, re-enforced to 8000 continental troops and 3000 militia, took a position at Shippack Creek, on the east side of the Schuylkill, about 20 miles from Philadelphia, and 16 from Germantown. At this last place lay the main body of the British army. The line of its encampment crossed the town at right angles; the left wing extended to the Schuylkill, and was covered in front and flank by the German chasseurs. The queen's American rangers and a battalion of light infantry were in front of the right; and the 40th regiment with another battalion of infantry was posted on the Chesnut road, three quarters of a mile in advance at the head of the village.

While general Howe was intently engaged in removing obstructions in the river Delaware, general Washington seized the first favourable opportunity to surprise the camp at Germantown. The plan was, to attack both wings in front and rear at the same instant. The divisions of Sullivan and Wayne, flanked by Conway's brigade, were to enter the town by the way of Chesnut Hill, and attack the left wing, while general Armstrong with the Pennsylvania militia was to fall down Manatawny [Ridge] road, and, turning the left flank, to attack in the rear. The divisions of Stephen and Greene, flanked by M'Dougal's brigade, were to enter by the Limekiln road at the market house, and attack the right wing. The militia of Maryland and Jersey, under generals Smallwood and Forman, were to march down the old York road, and fall on the rear of the right. The divisions of lord Stirling, and the brigade of Nash and Maxwell, were to form a corps de reserve.

German

The army, having moved from its ground about seven in the 1777. afternoon of the 3d of October, began an attack about sunrise the next morning. The advance of the column led by Sullivan, Oct. 4. which was accompanied by the commander in chief, encountered Battle of and drove in a picket, which presently gave way; and his main town. body, soon following, engaged the light infantry and other troops encamped near the picket, and forced them from their ground. Though closely pursued, lieutenant colonel Musgrove with six companies took post in a strong stone house, which lay in the way of the Americans, and severely galled them by a fire of musketry from the doors and windows. General Washington immediately ordered a brigade to surround the house; but colonel Musgrove refused to surrender. Four pieces of cannon. were brought against him, but he sustained the fire of them until major general Gray with the third brigade, and brigadier general Agnew with the fourth, came to his assistance, and attacked the Americans with great spirit. In the mean time general Greene arrived with his column, and attacked the right wing of the enemy. Colonel Matthews routed a party of the British opposed to him, killed several, and took 110 prisoners; but from the darkness of the day, caused by an uncommonly thick fog, he lost sight of the brigade to which he belonged, and was taken prisoner with his whole regiment. At length a part of the right wing of the British attacked the Americans on the opposite side of the town, while general Grant moved up the 49th regiment to the aid of the 4th, which was employed in supporting the troops engaged with Greene's column. The embarrassments among the American troops, occasioned by the darkness, had given the enemy time to recover from their first consternation. While the front of Sullivan's division, having penetrated far into German- retreat. town, was very warmly engaged, the main body of the American army began to retreat; and all efforts to rally it were ineffectual. In this battle, about 200 Americans were killed, nearly 600 wounded, and about 400 made prisoners. Among the slain were general Nash, of North Carolina, who fell at the head of his Gen. Nash brigade, and his aid de camp, major Witherspoon. The loss of the enemy, in killed and wounded, was 600, of whom less than 100 were killed.

The American army encamped again on Shippack Creek, but soon after advanced to White Marsh; the royal army removed from Germantown to Philadelphia. The object which now principally engaged their attention, was, on the one part to retain, and on the other to acquire, possession of the forts on the Delaware. Without obtaining them, general Howe could have no communication with his fleet; and he would be compelled to evacuate Philadelphia. For the security of that city on the

Americans

killed.

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