on the 28th of August. With very little delay, Sir William advanced to Elkton, whence he moved to his left, preferring the upper route, where the water-courses were fordable; where, from the presumed security of the farmers, provisions were more readily procurable; and where he avoided those artificial impediments known to be prepared for him on the lower route. As soon as this movement was ascertained by Washington, he broke up from White Clay Creek, and, turning to his right, took post on the eastern side of the Brandywine, fronting Chadsford, where he waited the approach of his foe. Sir William continued to advance by steady marches, holding up the strength of his troops, whose valor, he foresaw with pleasure, would be tested in a few days. * Having reached Kennet's Square on the 11th of September, not more than six or seven miles from Chadsford, Howe advanced in two columns; the right inferior in force, and charged with the care of the baggage, provisions, &c., under the direction of Lieutenant-General Knyphausen, took the road to Chadsford, with orders to delay passing the Brandywine until the commencement of the battle by the left should announce itself. This other column, made up of the best corps, and consisting of nearly two-thirds of the whole force, commanded by Sir William Howe in person, having under him Lord Cornwallis, diverged to the left, and making an extensive circuit, crossed the two branches of the Brandywine; when turning down the river it approached the American right. The battle *Washington was quickly informed of the separation of the enemy's columns, as he was subsequently informed not only of its continuance, but that the left column was making a very circuitous sweep. Persuaded of the fact, he wisely determined to pass the Brandywine with his whole force and strike at Knyphausen. In the very act of giving his orders to this effect, Colonel Bland, of the Virginia horse, brought him intelligence which very much obscured, if it did not contradict, the previous information; and the original judicious decision was abandoned. Colonel Bland was noble, sensible, honorable, and amiable; but never intended for the department of military intelligence. The third regiment of Virginia, first Mercer's, who fell covered with glory at Princeton; next Weedon's, at this time Marshall's, exhibited an example worthy of itself, its country, and its leader. Already high in reputation from the gallant stand made by one battalion under Major Leitch on York Island, when supporting the brave Colonel Knowlton, in the first check given to the enemy, flushed with his victory of Long Island, in which check Knowlton was killed and Leitch mortally wounded, having received three balls successively through his body, at the head of his victorious battalion; from its firmness on our retreat through New Jersey: from its intrepidity at Trenton, and its valor at Princeton, it now surpassed its pristine fame. Our loss amounted to 300 killed, 600 wounded, and 400 prisoners, chiefly wounded. Major-General de la Fayette and Brigadier Woodward were wounded. Sir William Howe stated in his official report the British loss to be only 100 killed and 400 wounded. The vanquished army will always suffer most. soon began in this quarter; and quickly afterward Knyphausen forcing Brigadier Maxwell, who commanded the light infantry stationed on the western side of the Brandywine, advanced upon our left. Three small detachments, commanded by the LieutenantColonels Parker, Heth, and Simms, of the Virginia line, were early in the morning separately and advantageously posted by the brigadier contiguous to the road, some distance in his front; and Captain Porterfield, with a company of infantry, preceded these parties with orders to deliver his fire as soon as he should meet the van of the enemy, and then to fall back. This service was handsomely performed by Porterfield, and produced the desired effect. The British van pressed forward rapidly and incautiously, until it lined the front of the detachment commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Simms, who poured in a close and destructive fire, and then retreated to the light corps. The leading officer of the enemy was killed; and the' detachment suffered severely. The contest which began on our right spread to our left, and was warm in some parts of the American line; and many of the corps distinguished themselves. The most conspicuous were the brigades of Wayne and Weedon, and the third regiment of Virginia, commanded by Colonel Marshall;* to which, with the artillery directed by Colonel Proctor of Pennsylvania, much praise was given. Of these the third regiment stood pre-eminent, part of Woodford's brigade: it occupied the right of the American line, and being advanced to a small eminence some little distance in front, for the purpose of holding safe that flank, it received the first shock of the foe. One column moved upon it in front, while a second struck at its left. Cut off from co-operation by the latter movement, it bravely sustained itself against superior numbers, never yielding one inch of ground, and expending thirty rounds a man, in forty-five minutes. It was now ordered to fall back upon Woodford's right, which was handsomely accomplished by Colonel Marshall, although deprived of half his officers, where he renewed the sanguinary contest. The regiment, having been much reduced by previous service, did not amount to more than a battalion; but one field officer, the colonel, and four captains were with it. Marshall escaped unhurt, although his horse received two balls. Of the captains, two only, Blackwell and Peyton, remained fit for duty. Chilton was killed, and Lee mortally wounded. The subalterns suffered in proportion. Lieutenants White, Cooper, and Ensign Peyton were killed; Lieutenants Mercer, Blackwell, and *Father of Chief Justice Marshall. Peyton, wounded. Thirteen non-commissioned officers and sixty privates fell. The opposing enemy was severely handled; and the leading officer of one of the columns, with several others, was killed. The action closed with the day, in our defeat. CHAPTER IV. Washington advances to meet the enemy-The armies separated by a tempest.-Sir Wm. Howe moves toward Philadelphia.-Narrow escape of Hamilton and Lee. WASHINGTON retired during the night to Chester; * whence he decamped the next morning. Taking the route to Philadelphia and crossing the Schuylkill, he moved up that river, halted one day at Germantown, then recrossed it near Swedesford, and gained the Lancaster road. On the 15th he advanced to meet the enemy, who, after three days' repose on the field of battle, quitted the Brandywine, pointing his march to the upper fords of the Schuylkill. A violent storm, accompanied by a deluge of rain, stopped the renewal of battle on the following day, near the Warren tavern on the road from Philadelphia to Lancaster; for which the two armies were arrayed, and in which the van troops were engaged. Separated by the tempest, the American general exerted himself to replenish his ammunition, destroyed by the fall of water, from the insecurity of our cartouch boxes and artillery tumbrels;† while the British general pursued his route across the Schuylkill, directing his course to the American metropolis. Contiguous to the enemy's route lay some mills stored with flour, for the use of the American army. * It is worthy of remark that Howe was but eighteen miles from Philadelphia; and Washington, who reached Chester on the night of the battle was sixteen miles distant, the Delaware on his right, the Schuylkill in his front, and his enemy on his left. Was it not surprising that the British general did not perceive and seize the advantage so plainly before him, by a forced march as soon as his troops had snatched food and rest? † Among the many and afflicting disadvantages imposed on the American general, the insufficiency of the implements covering our powder, was not the least. There existed another ground of disparity, which continued nearly to the end of the war-inferiority of arms. Some of our musketry were without bayonets, and not a single brigade had muskets of the same calibre; by which means, a corps expending its ammunition, could not use that of an adjoining corps. The latter deficiency is imputable to our poverty, as arms in that stage of the war could only be procured by purchase from abroad; but the former is justly to be ascribed to the criminal supineness of our contractors, as we abounded in leather and good workmen. More probably twenty-five miles.-NOTE BY THE ED. Their destruction was deemed necessary by the commander-in-chief; and his aid-de-camp, Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton,* attended by Captain Lee, with a small party of his troop of horse, were dispatched in front of the enemy, with the order of execution. The mill, or mills, stood on the bank of the Schuylkill. Approaching, you descend a long hill leading to a bridge over the mill-race. On the summit of this hill two vedettes were posted; and soon after the party reached the mills, Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton took possession of a flat-bottomed boat for the purpose of transporting himself and his comrades across the river, should the sudden approach of the enemy render such retreat necessary. In a little time this precaution manifested his sagacity: the fire of the vedettes announced the enemy's appearance. The dragoons were ordered instantly to embark. Of the small party, four with the lieutenant-colonel jumped into the boat, the van of the enemy's horse in full view, pressing down the hill in pursuit of the two vedettes. Captain Lee, with the remaining two, took the decision to regain the bridge, rather than detain the boat. Hamilton was committed to the flood, struggling against a violent current, increased by the recent rains; while Lee put his safety on the speed and soundness of his horse. The attention of the enemy being engaged by Lee's push for the bridge, delayed the attack upon the boat for a few minutes, and thus afforded to Hamilton a better chance of escape. The two vedettes preceded Lee as he reached the bridge; and himself with the two dragoons safely passed it, although the enemy's front section emptied their carbines and pistols at the distance of ten or twelve paces. Lee's apprehension for the safety of Hamilton continued to increase, as he heard volleys of carbines discharged upon the boat, which were returned by guns singly and occasionally. He trembled for the probable issue; and as soon as the pursuit ended, which did not long continue, he dispatched a dragoon to the commander-in-chief, describing, with feelings of anxiety, what had passed, and his sad presage. His letter was scarcely perused by Washington before Hamilton himself appeared; and ignorant of the contents of the * The celebrated Alexander Hamilton. Henry Lee, afterward Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, of the Legion cavalry. The fire of cavalry is at best innocent, especially in quick motion, as was then the case. The strength and activity of the horse, the precision and celerity of evolution, the adroitness of the rider, boot-top to boot-top, and the keen edge of the sabre, with fitness of ground and skill in the leader, constitute their vast power so often decisive in the day of battle. paper in the general's hand, renewed his attention to the ill-boding separation, with the probability that his friend Lee had been cut off, inasmuch as instantly after he turned for the bridge, the British horse reached the mill, and commenced their operations upon the boat. Washington with joy relieved his fears, by giving to his aid-de camp the captain's letter. Thus did fortune smile upon these two young soldiers, already united in friendship, which ceased only with life. Lieutenant-Colo-, nel Hamilton escaped unhurt; but two of his four dragoons, with one of the boatmen, were wounded. CHAPTER V. Sir Wm. Howe marches to Philadelphia.-Cornwallis at Germantown.-Washington moves to Skippack Creek.-Battle of Germantown. SIR WILLIAM Howe, having passed the Schuylkill on the 23d, pursued by easy marches his route to Philadelphia. On the 26th he took a position in the village of Germantown, seven or eight miles distant from the city, which was on the following day possessed by Lord Cornwallis with one division of the army. The position of Germantown has some advantages, mingled with many disadvantages. Its right is accessible with ease; and its centre presents no obstruction from superiority of ground to the assailant. Its chief, if not sole advantage, consisted in the safety of the left, and its proximity to Philadelphia, which city it was necessary to secure. A few miles more remote is Chestnut Hill, which Sir William might have occupied, and where he might have defied annoyance. This ground probably did not escape his observation; but it was not so near to Philadelphia, and, what was more to be regarded, too remote to permit him to give his undivided exertions toward the opening of the Delaware to his fleet, on whose propinquity depended the safety of his army. The possession of Philadelphia, however anxiously desired, and highly rated by the British ministry, did not produce any of those advantageous results so confidently expected: nor indeed could the discriminating statesman have justly calculated upon extensive benefit from the achievement. The American nation is spread over a vast region; the great body of whose population live upon their farms, pursuing exclusively the occupations of agriculture. The loss of a town, though the first, is not felt by a people thus situated |