The daily gazette., 1877-09-11

1
tlon.. Suspectipg that Howe intended Il
pass by his right, cross the Brandywine
and by gaining the heights porth of The
stream cut him off "om Philadelphia
Washington summoned council of wa
That evening, whenit wfs foreed 10 I'm.
medsately change position aud move the
army to The river. BY the next evei.'ns
the amy twas enrTr. d on the, bigi
grounds in the rear Of the Brandywine
and the enemy moved to Kenpett S luare
ABOUT seven miles from the American
Epo3lsion. rgR III
The principal attack bsipg EXPECTED
at Chadds Ford, Washington made IL "a,
centre of his position, where he soatione,
The main body, of his srmy, COMPOSED %
| W ayne's, .Weedon's,i and Muhienbere,
brlgaues, with the light infantry uude
IMs&Fella An eminsace immediatel,
above the ford HID BEEN intrenched ii
tbe right, and was occupied by Wayn,
and Proctor's artillery. Weedon's anc
PMubleuberg $ brigades, which formed
Gen. Greene's division, were posted il
1.-THE rea" of the heights, - reserve to ait
either wing of the army. Maxwell's ligh
lhflntry were thrown in the advance
south Of the Brandywine, and posted on
hi9 ground each side ofthe road leading
TO ia. sd. y...
The right wing of the army commanded
by Sullivan, composed of his, Stephens
and Strings divisions, extended up the
Brandywine. two miles beyond Washing
IONS position. The left wing, composed
OF the Pennsylvania militia, under Major
General Armstrong, was stationed about
mile and half below the main body
TO protec, the lower fords, where the least
danger was apprebended
Ealy on the morning of the 18th a
greet column cf troops YVES dis ,ried ad-
yancing on the road leading to Cbadfs
F)rd. The Americans were imlnedi-
ately drawn out. n order of battle, and a
sharp filing of small arms soon told that
Maxwell's light ip Hantry were engaged
with the van guard of the enemy, Max
well, after spirited skirlnish, was driven
across the river, but the enemy did not
att. e.npt to follow. The orning was
occupied by few minor skirmishes, with
heavy cannonading on both sides.
Towards noon Washington received in-
formation that the main body of the
British was moving down on the e. st
side of the stream, which proved to be
correct. While Knyphansen with a small
division, had engrosssd the attention of
he enemy by feignad attack at Chadd 8
Ford, the main body Of the army under
Lold Corvallis, led bN experienced
guides, had made circuit of seventeen
miles crossed the two forks of the Brandy
wine ana arrived In the neIghborhood Of
Birmingham meeting house, twomiles to
the right of Sullivan. .u... ,.. ,.
Washington Immediately sent orders
10 Sullivan to oppose CORVALLIS With
his whole right wing, each brigade at
tacking as soon as it arrived upon the
ground. Wayre, in the meantime was
TO keep Knyphausen at bay at the ford,
and Greens, with. the, reserve to hold
himself ready to give aid wherever re-
quirec. t.I'
Sullivan, on receiving Washington's
orders, advanced..with his, Stephens and
Stirling s divisions, and began to form a
line in front Of an open piece of Nood.-
During the formation of the line Corn
wallis advsuced rapidly aud opened a
brisk fire of Eusketry and artillery. The
Americans made al obstinate resistance
but being taken.a a disadvantage, the
right and left wiAgs we're broken and
driven into the woods. The centre stood
firm for awhile, but ,ing exposed to the
whole five of the enemy, gave way at
length also. The Americans rallied on
a heigth to the north of Dilworch, add
made still more spirited resistance than
at fist, but were again dislodged aud
obliged to retreat with heavy loss.
Whi Q this was occur ing KnyphaIsen
as sooH g., he learned that CORVALLIS was
engaged, attempted to force his way
across Cnadd's Ford in earnest. He was
vigorously opposed by Wayne with Proc
tors artillery, aided by Maxwell and his
light infantry. Green was preparing to
second him with the reserve, when he
was summoned by Washington to the
support of the right wing, which the
commander in chief had found in immi-
nent perl
great CELEBRITY, but arrived too la e to save
the battle, though he protected the broken
masses of the le.t wing, which he found
in fall flight, and whose retreat he covered
by sl arp ani Nwell-directed fire ou
his field pieces. His grand sand was
made in obed ence to orders receive
from Washington, at a place about mile
from, DilWoTth. Weedon'S brigade was
drawn up ina narrow detile, fianked on
both sides by woods, and perfectly conf
manding the road; while Green, with
.Muhlenberg's brigade passing to the
ri hit, took his station on the road. The
British came on impetuously, expecting
but faint opposition. They met with a
desperate resistance and were repeatedly
driven back. 1t was the bloody conflict
of the bayonet, deadly on either side, and
lasting for considerable time. Weedon's
brigade on the left maintained its stand
also with great obstinacy, and the check
given to the enemy by these two brigades
allowed time for the broken troops to
retreat. Weedon ,wsS at length
compelled by superior numbers to seek
protection of the other brigade, which
he did in good order, and Greene gradu-
ally drew off the whole of the division in
face of the enemy, who, checked. by this
vigorous resistance, and seeing the day
far speut, gave up all further pursuit
The brave stand made by these brigades
had, likewise, been great protection to
Wayne. He had TOR long me with
stood the attacks ofthc enemy at Chadhs
Ford, until the approach, on the right,
of some of the enemy's troops who had
been entangled in the woods, showed
him that the right wing had been rout9o.
He now gave up the defence OF his posi-
and retreated by the Chester road, Kny-
pbausen'S trooDs were Loo fat gued TO