Thomas J. McGuire - Philadelphia Campaign: Germantown and the Roads to Valley Forge: 2

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank the following institutions and individuals for their assistance in this work: in the United Kingdom, the British National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office) at Kew; the Royal Artillery Library at Woolwich; the Library of Edinburgh Castle; Capt. David Horn of the Guards Museum, London; Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Russell of Ballindalloch Castle for use of the Grant Papers; Lord Howick of Howick Hall for use of Lord Cantelupe's diary; Durham University Library; the King's Map Collection at Windsor Castle, especially Martin Clayton; Sir Richard Osborn, Bt., and Sarah Saunders-Davies for their constant support, encouragement, and friendship; Col. Graeme Hazlewood of the Royal Logistics Corps; Andrew Cormack of the Journal of Army Historical Research for opening many doors, especially at the Castle, and networking with colleagues to find answers to challenging questions; Mr. John Houding; Robert Winup for his help with newspaper research; Dr. Anne Black and Uday Thakkar for their hospitality and tremendous support through years of research.

Back home, thanks are due to the American Philosophical Society; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Chester County Historical Society and the Chester County Archives, especially Diane and Laurie Rofini; the Lancaster County Historical Society; the Manuscript Department and Map Department of the Library of Congress, especially Ed Redmond; Col. J. Craig Nannos (Ret., PNG/USA) and Bruce Baky, two great history colleagues; Barbara Pollarine, assistant superintendent of Valley Forge NHP, for years of friendship and help; the Clements Library, especially John Dann; the New York Public Library; the Maryland Historical Society; the Historical Society of Delaware, especially Dr. Connie Cooper for her constant help and endless good humor; Lee Boyle, former historian at the Valley Forge National Historical Park Library; Joe Seymour of the First City Troop; Don Troiani; Will Tatum; Donald Londahl-Smidt and Mark Benedict for Hessian information; Joe Rubinfine; and Sam Fore of the Harlan Crow Library for the Von Feilitzsch manuscript.

The David Library of the American Revolution at Washington's Crossing deserves special mention, not only as an extraordinary depository of primary materials on the Revolution, but also for its excellent staff, especially Meg McSweeney, Kathy Ludwig, and Greg Johnson, as well as former directors Dave Ludwig and Dave Fowler, who made working there a joy.

Thanks also to Susan Gray Detweiler for her help and kindness with the British documents in the Appendix; my good friend and mentor, David McCullough, for his enthusiasm, advice, and encouragement; my editor and friend, Kyle Weaver, for providing the opportunity to make this book a reality and a labor of love, and his team of professionals, particularly copy editor Barbara Rossi and production editor Amy Cooper, for their tireless work; and finally to my wife, Susan, to whom this book is dedicated, for putting up with it all.

APPENDIX

I n the course of the research for The Philadelphia Campaign, some new information has come to light from documents that have been unpublished. These documents have been generously given to the American Philosophical Society. They are firsthand accounts of the campaign from British officers who have been unidentified until now. As the documents are unsigned, information in the papers themselves and careful research have allowed compelling analysis for the identity of the individuals. Historical analysis of the documents is found at the end of each.

DOCUMENT 1: Narrative letter, probably by Lt. William Keugh, adjutant of the 44th Regiment of Foot, American Philosophical Society.

Camp at German Town within 5 Miles of

Philadelphia the 28th of Septemr. 1777

My Dear Sir,

I Have the Satisfaction to Inform you, that the City of Philadelphia is in His Majesty's Possession; Lord Cornwallis with the British & Hessian Grenadiers having in usual form Enter'd it on the 26th Inst. and Hoisted the Royal Standard.

As the progress of Our Troops, previous to this Important Acquisition will I believe not be Unentertaining, I shall give you a Conjured Sketch of our Movements; In the latter part of May last, Sir Wm. Howe went with a Strong Reinforcement from New York to Amboy, in the province of Jersey, & proceeded to join Lord Cornwallis's Army then Collected at Brunswick; at this time, Mr. Washington with His Main Body were posted, & strongly Intrench'd in the Blue Mountains, abt. 13 Miles distant from Brunswick, in the Way to the River Delaware. Genl. Howe accordingly March'd to Hillsborough, & Middle Bush, which are tolerably Contiguous to these Mountains; however the Enemy made no appearance of a Wish to come to Action & the General, I presume not judging it Adviseable to drive them from their Strong Holds when it did not promise a Complete Execution of His Grand Design, We Retired in Good order back to Brunswick. after remaining there two days, It was Secretly Determined by a Council of General officers, to Abandon the Jerseys & prosecute an Expedition by Sea, the Army on which retreated to Amboy, & part cross'd the River to Staten Island. In the early part of this March, The Rebells kept Harrassing Our Rear, but a Detachment of the Light Infantry Concealing themselves in a Wood untill a Brigade of the Enemy, which had been sent forward for the purpose I have observed, Came up. They made such Havock among them, as put a Stop to any farther Interruption during the Retreat, Parties of the Enemy were Scatter'd abt. Amboy, lurking in Thickets & Hiding places, who kept Firing on our Advanced Sentrys. The General in Consequence, found it necessary to Scour the Country, in order to Effect an Easy retreat for His Whole Army to Staten Island, as the operations of removing Heavy Artillery, Waggons, Baggage & Stores for such a Body, across a River, are inconceiveably tedious & difficult; The part of the Army, which had Encamp'd on Staten Island Recross'd to Amboy, when the whole, extending a Line across the Country penetrated, & Clear'd it for a considerable distance, then returning, the Entire got over to Staten Island, & thus evacuated this province, with[ou]t the loss of a Man in retiring, or leaving an Article Behind. Such Inhabitants as chose to Come with the Army, were protected, & those, who preferr'd remaining, were left Unmolested in their Habitations. In the last Excursion Our Troops made in Jersey, The Honble. Captn. Finch of the Guards was Kill'd, & Captn. Lysaght of the 63rd Regt. Wounded. After the above, The Grand Army Assembled, & Encamped on Staten Island for Ten Days, When the Commander in chief having appointed Sir Henry Clinton to the Command of New York, & posts defending, (leaving with Him, the 17th Lt. Dragoons, the 7th, 22nd, 26th, 35th, 38th, 43rd, 52nd, 54th, 57th & 63rd Regimts. With Hessians & Provincials to a formidable Amount as also Genls. Vaughan, Piggott, Jones & Tryon) Embark'd on the 8th of June [sic: July] with His Main Body from Staten Island. On the 20th followg. the Fleet Consisting of near 200 Sail in which were most of the largest Ships of War on this Station, with severl. Frigates, Sloops & Row Gallies &c. put out to Sea, from New York Harbour; It's appearance, was Undescribeably Noble, The Destination whether Northward or Southward, was to Every Man in the Navy, or Army, (three or Four excepted) a profound Secret, & as to the place for Landing, it continued so untill the very Hour of Debarkation; After being Baffled about, by Contrary Winds for three Weeks, We made the Capes of Delaware, & Consider'd the Fleet wd. proceed up that River. Whether It was originally Intended so or not, I cannot pretend to Determine, but Certain it is, that the Roebuck Ship of War, Station'd there, Came out & acquainted Lord Howe, that a Train of Fire Ships were laid across the River, as likewise, that Mr. Washington with a large Force had the Night before arrived at Philadelphia; A Signal in the Evening was made for the Fleet to put About & stand for Sea; After being toss'd by Squalls & a trade Wind in our Teeth for above a Fortnight, We made the Capes of Virginia; & Sail'd up the Chesepeak River, to the River Elke in Maryland, & Landed at Elk Ferry the 24th of August, being 7 Weeks on board Ship, & 5 on our Voyage; in want of provisions, Our Stock having been for several Days before We Landed, Exhausted. The Elke comes to a Head abt. 9 Miles from the Ferry on wh[ich] acc[oun]t the Army divided into two Columns, at each Side of the River & detaching strong parties each, Collected a Sufficiency of Cattle &c. for the support of the Whole untill resources c[oul]d be procured, & came together at the Head of the River. We were then near 60 miles from Philadelphia, & the Situation of the Country We had to penetrate thro, was such as totally precluded us all Intercourse with our Shipping; Our Marches were long but yet not gaining much on the way hither, Genl. Howe's Great Object being, to bring Mr. Washington to Action, which made it necessary to proceed with extreme Caution, He having the entire choice of Country & frequently changing His Ground, & positions, as We advanced. On our Troops entering the province of Pensylvania, a Chosen Corps of the Enemy attempted to oppose Our Van but they were drove with a loss of near 400 on their part, & a very Inconsiderable one on Ours; this Success in a great Measure facilitated Our future progress, which met no Opposition, till the 10th of Septr., w[he]n Gl. Howe having Intelligence that Mr. Washington had taken post with an Intention to Stand on the Heights of Brandy Wine, within 25 Miles of Philadelphia, having a Strong Creek in his Front. accordingly Matters were arranged for Marching th[a]t Night in order to Attack Him the Day following. The Army were divided in two Columns, the Right Commanded by Genl. Knyphausen, & the left by Ld. Cornwallis, which last Sir Wm. Howe himself Attended. Each Column took a differ[en]t route. ab[ou]t 10 o'Clock on the followg. Morng., the 11th Inst[ant]. the Right Column perceived part of the Enemy who disputed the pass of the Creek with the Van of their Division, however Our people persevered with a Superior Bravery & gain'd a Hill on the opposite side of the Creek, on wh[ich] the Enemy fell back;Genl. Knyphausen deem'd it prudent to remain here, & occupy the Eminence He was in possession off, until Sir William's Column had time to come up, so that a Junction sh[oul]d be made; in this situation did He stay, keeping up a Chequer'd Canonade with the Rebells, until four o'Clock, when being apprized of Sir William's approach by a Firing on his Left, the Junction was made with Inimitable Skill, and ab[ou]t half past Four, We Came in sight of the Rebell Army, supposed to be abt. 23,000 drawn up in three Divisions, on Hills which Nature Unassisted, had abundantly fortified; Our Troops, tho excessively fatigued from a March of 18 Miles, an Intense Hott Day, loaded with Knapsacks, Ammunition &c. displayed a liveliness & Chearful Vigour on Seeing the Enemy that Words would but poorly describe. The Disposition for Engaging being Immediately fix'd, & a smart Canonade Commenced, the Light Infantry first advanced, and speedily obliged them to give Way, the Engagement soon became general, three Brigades of the Enemy filing off, attempted to turn our Left Flank, but this Movement being perceived, they were thoroughly Baffled & repulsed with vast slaughter. They broke on all Quarters, & Notwithstanding, Our Troops were so spent with fatigue, that they c[oul]d scarce use their Bayonets in charging the Enemy, they routed, & pursued them with vast execution for near four Miles, & had not Night come on & ended the pursuit, I am convinced, the Victory, Brilliant as it has been, w[oul]d have proved Splendidly decisive; Sir William exposed His person during the Engagement, with Distinguished Valour. the Loss of the Enemy in the Action must have been a thousand, to which you may add four More, as the Consequences of the Defeat, I mean By Desertions Subsequent to it, and those who abandon'd their Cause. It affords me inexpressible Pleasure to acquaint you, that the Inhabitants, who stay'd at their Homes, & were Considerable Sufferers by the Lawless oppressions of the Rebell Army, planted themselves on Hills, which enabled them to be Witnesses to the Success of His Majesties Arms, & the Disgrace of the Enemy, Who had too long Duped the poor people, into a Delusion, & made them to believe that Our Troops were Unable to stand them. the Absurdity of that idea, the proceedings of this Day Effectually removed, and the Infatuated Enemy received Fatal, Undeceiving proofs Of it. They lost by accts. Received, 22 pieces of Cannon, yet I learn We got not more than 15, & a Howitzer, owing to Night coming on. The Rebells never kindled a Fire th[a]t Night, until they reached Chester which is but 14 miles from Philadelphia, & 11 from the Field of Battle on the Brandy Wine where Our Army lay on their arms till Morning, strongly Wishing the Ground w[oul]d produce those Comforts it was Named from, & which I assure you We stood in much Need of.As to the Loss on our part, The Kill'd & Wounded in the Whole, was within four Hundred,On the other side [of the sheet of paper] I give you a List of Officers who suffer'd on the occasion. I apprehend there may be a few More, who I have not heard of4th Regt. Honble Capt. Rawdon (shot in the Knee it is thought He must loose his Leg) 5th Regt. Majr. Mitchell (in the Shoulder Slight) & Capn. Harris Wounded [George Harris, wounded at Iron Hill], 15th Regt. Lieut. Falconer Kill'd, Captn. Cathcart & Lt. Leigh Wounded23rd. Reg. Capt. McCan Wounded27th Lt. C. Menchin Kill'd, Lt. Birch Wounded. 28th Rt. Cap. Daly a slight Wound33 Regt. Capn. Danzee, Lieuts. Drummond & Nicholl Wounded35th Cap. McAlister Wounded. 37th Capn. Speight, a Lt. & Ensign Wounded38th Regt. Lt. Johnston Kill'd, 40th Regt. Cap. Simcoe & Lt. De Courcy Wounded, Lt. Barber Kill'd. 44th Cap. Fish Wounded. 45th Maj. Gardiner (a flash Wound in the Shoulder) & Lt. Ruxton Wounded. 46th Ens. Bristow Wounded, 49th Captn. Wade (late Aid DE Camp to Genl. Massy) & Lt. Armstrong Wounded. 52nd Lt. D'Oyley Kill'd. Lt. Hunter Wounded [Martin Hunter, wounded at Paoli]55th Col. Medows & Cap. Downing Wounded [.] 57th Sir Jas. Murray Wounded,63rd Regt. Cap. Drury Kill'd, Lt. Ball Wounded. 64th Regt. Cap. Nairn Kill'd. Majr. McLeroth, Lts. Jacob & WynyardEnsns. Grant & Freeman Wounded. Capt. Ferguson of the 70th Regt. Badly Wounded71st Sir Jas. Baird a Slight OneRoyl. Artill[er]y Lt. Shans Woundedthe Queen's American Rangers had three Captns Kill'd & two Subs Wounded;All those were Convey'd to a Town Call'd Wilmington near where the Shipping lay; & wh[ich] the Enemy deserted on their Approach. We have had no Acc[oun]ts from them since, but I fear Many will not Survive their Wounds, as Fevers & Influenzas (wh. Prevail in this Country) generally Succeed them.The Sick, Wounded & Prisoners, being disposed of in ab[ou]t three days, Gl. Howe push'd forward to Cut off Mr. Washington's Retreat, but Intelligence being received on the 20th inst. That a Genl. Wayne was posted with 1500 Men abt. two Miles from where our Army lay, evidently Intending to Attack from Woods & Skulking places, Our Rear, while their Main Bodies engaged our Front & Flanks in passing the River Schulkill, In our progress to Philadelphia. In consequence of this acct., Majr. Genl. Gray was Dispatched abt. 11 o'Clock tht. Night, with a Battn. of Lt. Infantry, the 42nd & 44th Regts. to Attack Genl. Wayn.The Army proceeded with the utmost Caution & Silence; on their getting near the Enemy, an Advanced Sentry Challeng'd & Fired, as did their Piquet; this giving the alarm, Genl, Gray with His Troops (who were not permitted to Load) Dash'd forward, with fix'd Bayonts. into the Enemies Encampmt. & with[ou]t firing a Shott, Destroy's above four hundred of them, the remainder flying with Horror & precipitation, & by Four next Morng. He got back to the Army with[out] a loss of more than two Men, & Capt. Wolfe of the 40th who was Kill'd.The Carnage was Amazing & terrible;I confess it is most shocking to think that such Extremities are unavoidable in the prosecution of War, but think w[ha]t Baneful Consequences must have ensued to Us, had it not have been put in Execution, As They (knowing We were to March th[a]t Morn[in]g) were getting under Arms for the purpose of Assassinating Our Army, at the time Gl. Gray reach'd them, & so unexpectedly frustrated their Cowardly Diabolical Intentions.The Enemy were so terrified and disconcerted by this Maneuvre, tht. They flew on all Sides, suffering Us to Ford the Schulkill Unopposed, leaving in a Redoubt four 18 poundrs. they meant to have play'd on Us & proceed here after taking 120 Miles in Winding Marches to reach it.