00000356 |
Previous | 356 of 684 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
|
CONSTERNATION IN PHILADELPHIA. 321
army. My horse threw me in the time of action, but I did not receive any great injury from
it. Lord Stirling's division, who were attacked at the same time we were, and routed at
the same time. We retreated about a quarter of a mile and rallied all the men we could,
when we were reinforced by Greene's and Nash's corps, who had not till that time got up.
Greene had his men posted on a good piece of ground, which they maintained for some
time, and I dare say did great execution. At this time the enemy, who were left at the
fords, crossed, which was after five o'clock, when firing began from almost every quarter,
and I expected a general and bloody action. The enemy, however, moved with caution,
which gave those who were obliged to give way, an opportunity to make their retreat
in safety. Never was a more constant and heavy fire while it lasted; and I was much
amazed when I knew the numbers that were killed and wounded. We did not lose one
thousand men, officers and all, to speak say. I lost twenty-three privates and two
sergeants killed, wounded and taken, and one captain (Ford) wounded; he will recover.
Never was a more favorable opportunity for us: fortune seemed in the morning to count
us to victory and honor; but the scene was much changed in the evening. Had our
intelligence been as good as it ought to have been, or had we crossed the fords when
General Washington first ordered it, it is almost as certain as that two and two make four,
that the whole British army would have been routed, and, perhaps, this war ended.
General Howe played a deep but dangerous card. He left about two thousand men to
guard the fords opposite to us, and marched their main army round for more than ten
miles, so that the two parties had not any connection or dependence on each other. If
we had crossed, the two thousand men must inevitably have fallen into our hands, which
would have reduced the enemy's strength so much, that before this time they would all
either have been captives or driven from this land ; upon the whole I do not think we
have lost anything by that day. My manner of carrying on this war would be so different
from the present system that I should frequently expect to be driven from the ground.
We ought to attack them everywhere we meet them. By this method it would make our
men soldiers, and be constantly reducing the enemy, and ensure us success in a few
months. We are now within four miles of Pottsgrove, on the Schuylkill; the enemy are
about as many miles below on the other side. You may expect to hear of an engagement
every day. General Wayne and General Smallwood's camps were surprised a few nights
ago, by a party of the British light-horse. Our men were put in confusion, but no great
damage done."
The Marylanders fought the battle of Brandywine under great disadvantages. Both Sullivan and Deborre were unpopular with the men, if not
actually disliked by them; and Smaliwood and Gist, their two most popular
leaders, were absent in Maryland. In addition to these misfortunes, a misunderstanding occurred upon the field between Sullivan and Deborre, which
necessarily increased the confusion. Deborre, imperfectly acquainted with
the English language, disobeyed orders, and shortly afterwards when about
to be court-martialed, resigned. Sullivan, for his bad generalship, was for a
while relieved of his command; but after the lapse of a short time, congress,
at the request of Washington, reinstated him.
The result of the battle of the Brandywine created the greatest consternation in Philadelphia, only twenty-six miles off. Many of the citizens, in their
alarm, abandoned everything and took refuge in the interior of the State.
Congress ordered all the military stores, bells, printing-presses, types, etc., to
be removed from the city to a.place of safety, and on the 12th, ordered
21—v. ii
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000356 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | CONSTERNATION IN PHILADELPHIA. 321 army. My horse threw me in the time of action, but I did not receive any great injury from it. Lord Stirling's division, who were attacked at the same time we were, and routed at the same time. We retreated about a quarter of a mile and rallied all the men we could, when we were reinforced by Greene's and Nash's corps, who had not till that time got up. Greene had his men posted on a good piece of ground, which they maintained for some time, and I dare say did great execution. At this time the enemy, who were left at the fords, crossed, which was after five o'clock, when firing began from almost every quarter, and I expected a general and bloody action. The enemy, however, moved with caution, which gave those who were obliged to give way, an opportunity to make their retreat in safety. Never was a more constant and heavy fire while it lasted; and I was much amazed when I knew the numbers that were killed and wounded. We did not lose one thousand men, officers and all, to speak say. I lost twenty-three privates and two sergeants killed, wounded and taken, and one captain (Ford) wounded; he will recover. Never was a more favorable opportunity for us: fortune seemed in the morning to count us to victory and honor; but the scene was much changed in the evening. Had our intelligence been as good as it ought to have been, or had we crossed the fords when General Washington first ordered it, it is almost as certain as that two and two make four, that the whole British army would have been routed, and, perhaps, this war ended. General Howe played a deep but dangerous card. He left about two thousand men to guard the fords opposite to us, and marched their main army round for more than ten miles, so that the two parties had not any connection or dependence on each other. If we had crossed, the two thousand men must inevitably have fallen into our hands, which would have reduced the enemy's strength so much, that before this time they would all either have been captives or driven from this land ; upon the whole I do not think we have lost anything by that day. My manner of carrying on this war would be so different from the present system that I should frequently expect to be driven from the ground. We ought to attack them everywhere we meet them. By this method it would make our men soldiers, and be constantly reducing the enemy, and ensure us success in a few months. We are now within four miles of Pottsgrove, on the Schuylkill; the enemy are about as many miles below on the other side. You may expect to hear of an engagement every day. General Wayne and General Smallwood's camps were surprised a few nights ago, by a party of the British light-horse. Our men were put in confusion, but no great damage done." The Marylanders fought the battle of Brandywine under great disadvantages. Both Sullivan and Deborre were unpopular with the men, if not actually disliked by them; and Smaliwood and Gist, their two most popular leaders, were absent in Maryland. In addition to these misfortunes, a misunderstanding occurred upon the field between Sullivan and Deborre, which necessarily increased the confusion. Deborre, imperfectly acquainted with the English language, disobeyed orders, and shortly afterwards when about to be court-martialed, resigned. Sullivan, for his bad generalship, was for a while relieved of his command; but after the lapse of a short time, congress, at the request of Washington, reinstated him. The result of the battle of the Brandywine created the greatest consternation in Philadelphia, only twenty-six miles off. Many of the citizens, in their alarm, abandoned everything and took refuge in the interior of the State. Congress ordered all the military stores, bells, printing-presses, types, etc., to be removed from the city to a.place of safety, and on the 12th, ordered 21—v. ii |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B |
|
| C |
|
| G |
|
| H |
|
| M |
|
| T |
|
