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AMERICANS SURPRISED AT PAOLI. 323
and killed, wounded, and took prisoners at least three hundred of his men.
General Smaliwood, who was to have co-operated with Wayne, was within a
mile of him at the time of this attack, but his raw militia were seized with a
panic and fled upon the approach of the enemy. The continentals rallied at
a small distance from the place of the first rout, but the enemy drew off
without renewing the action, and Wayne and Smaliwood rejoined the main
army.
This surprise at Paoli opened the way of the enemy to Philadelphia, and on
September 25th Cornwallis, Avith his grenadiers, took possession of that city.
Immediately after the battle of Brandywine, Admiral Howe, with his fleet, sailed
for the Delaware, where he expected to arrive in time to co-operate with the
land forces in and about Philadelphia. In noticing their .movements in the
Chesapeake, the Maryland Gazette observes :
" Last Sunday morning (September 13) a number of the enemy's fleet were seen standing down our bay with a fair wind; their destination is supposed to be for Delaware. On
their first appearance off the mouth of Patapsco River it was thought that an attempt
might be meditated against this town. In that case it is with pleasure we can inform our
readers we are well prepared to give them a warm reception. The fort, batteries and
boom at Whetstone Point are in excellent order; a furnace is erected on the point,
from which red-hot thunderbolts of war will issue to meet our invading foes. All valuable effects, together with the women and children, are chiefly removed out of town to
places of safety; and our brave countrymen flock in great numbers to our assistance, so
that a resolute and determinate stand may be expected whenever these lawless plunderers
shall think proper to invade us."
To prevent the assent of the fleet in the Delaware, a double set of chevaux-
de-frise were placed across the channel of the river; one seven miles from
Philadelphia, just below the mouth of the Schuylkill, and protected by Fort
Mercer, at Ked Bank, on the New Jersey shore, and one at Fort Mifflin, on
Mud Island. At Philadelphia, the river was protected by the American
flotilla, composed of one frigate, smaller vessels, galleys, floating batteries, etc.
On the 27th of September the British fleet approached the city, and on the
ebb of the tide the American frigate grounded, and fearing a fire from the land,
surrendered. On the 2d of October, a party of the enemy crossing the Delaware at Chester, the garrison at Billingsport spiked their guns and hastily
fled. A panic seemed to prevail all along the river; the militia, who were to
defend Eed-Bank, disappeared, and those of New Jersey refused to do duty;
while from the forts and flotilla there were frequent desertions.
In the midst of this general despondency, Washington again had recourse to
his favorite troops, and detached Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Smith, of Baltimore, with some Maryland artillery, to occupy Fort Mifflin, on Mud Island.
Colonel Christopher Greene, of Khode Island, was placed in command of Fort
Mercer, at Red Bank. Commodore Hazlewood had charge of the flotilla.
Having received intelligence, through two intercepted letters, that General Howe had detached a part of his force for the purpose of reducing
Billingsport and the forts on the Delaware, Washington called a council of
| 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 | 00000358 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | AMERICANS SURPRISED AT PAOLI. 323 and killed, wounded, and took prisoners at least three hundred of his men. General Smaliwood, who was to have co-operated with Wayne, was within a mile of him at the time of this attack, but his raw militia were seized with a panic and fled upon the approach of the enemy. The continentals rallied at a small distance from the place of the first rout, but the enemy drew off without renewing the action, and Wayne and Smaliwood rejoined the main army. This surprise at Paoli opened the way of the enemy to Philadelphia, and on September 25th Cornwallis, Avith his grenadiers, took possession of that city. Immediately after the battle of Brandywine, Admiral Howe, with his fleet, sailed for the Delaware, where he expected to arrive in time to co-operate with the land forces in and about Philadelphia. In noticing their .movements in the Chesapeake, the Maryland Gazette observes : " Last Sunday morning (September 13) a number of the enemy's fleet were seen standing down our bay with a fair wind; their destination is supposed to be for Delaware. On their first appearance off the mouth of Patapsco River it was thought that an attempt might be meditated against this town. In that case it is with pleasure we can inform our readers we are well prepared to give them a warm reception. The fort, batteries and boom at Whetstone Point are in excellent order; a furnace is erected on the point, from which red-hot thunderbolts of war will issue to meet our invading foes. All valuable effects, together with the women and children, are chiefly removed out of town to places of safety; and our brave countrymen flock in great numbers to our assistance, so that a resolute and determinate stand may be expected whenever these lawless plunderers shall think proper to invade us." To prevent the assent of the fleet in the Delaware, a double set of chevaux- de-frise were placed across the channel of the river; one seven miles from Philadelphia, just below the mouth of the Schuylkill, and protected by Fort Mercer, at Ked Bank, on the New Jersey shore, and one at Fort Mifflin, on Mud Island. At Philadelphia, the river was protected by the American flotilla, composed of one frigate, smaller vessels, galleys, floating batteries, etc. On the 27th of September the British fleet approached the city, and on the ebb of the tide the American frigate grounded, and fearing a fire from the land, surrendered. On the 2d of October, a party of the enemy crossing the Delaware at Chester, the garrison at Billingsport spiked their guns and hastily fled. A panic seemed to prevail all along the river; the militia, who were to defend Eed-Bank, disappeared, and those of New Jersey refused to do duty; while from the forts and flotilla there were frequent desertions. In the midst of this general despondency, Washington again had recourse to his favorite troops, and detached Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Smith, of Baltimore, with some Maryland artillery, to occupy Fort Mifflin, on Mud Island. Colonel Christopher Greene, of Khode Island, was placed in command of Fort Mercer, at Red Bank. Commodore Hazlewood had charge of the flotilla. Having received intelligence, through two intercepted letters, that General Howe had detached a part of his force for the purpose of reducing Billingsport and the forts on the Delaware, Washington called a council of |
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