Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-10-01
CLEARFIELD, Pa, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER |, 1879


night, waiting thus for the momcn
when it should be timo to rouse hi
men and move, there came a friendl,
citizen of the neighborhood, Mr.
Jones, to say that servant of Mr.
Clayton, who had been a prisoner il
the British camp, had overheard tall
there Of an intended attack to be mad,
upon Wayne's attachment in the cours,
of this very night. His position baC
become known to them, it seemed
Wayne therefore took precautionl
against surprise He threw out NOR,
videttes, and placed new pickets, anC
awaiting Smallwood's troops with i'm
patience, resumed the duty OF inactior
until he could be ready to take the Of
fensive.
The British did Intend to attack him
General Grey had been selected for the
service. Guided by Tory residents, as
it was always believed, he set out from
his camp near Hogcllville and masscd
his troops on the Swedes' Ford road
Thence he moved up to the Valley
Store, and then turned down the Long
Ford road to near the Warren Tavern,
where he went into the woods and
cautiously creptup the ravine through
the south valley, just north of Waynes
camp. He had, on the way, encoun-
tered pickets at the Valley Store, and
near the General Warren, both Of
whom fired and fed. Grey doubtless
moved rapidly. His guides, whoever
they may have been, knew the ground
well. Several Of the American pickets
were surprised and bayonetted. One
Of those who escaped bad scarcely more
than entered the camp, and given the
alarm, "Up, men the British are on
you !" when, indeed, they swept into
the encampment like storm, The
night, if not at the moment rainy, was
dark, and the surrounding woods,
thick and sombrc, swarming perhaps
with the hidden enemy, added to the
gloomy features ofthe situation. Wayne
ordered his men to be wheeled by sub
platoons to the right and to march off
by the left, and gain the road leading
on the summit OF the hill towards the
White Horse. There was some delay.
The artillery got off, but the men
though wheeled, did not move, until
the second, and even the third, order
was given. Then, one part Of the force
moved in the right direction while the
other did not. 1t was now past mid
night-one o'clock on the morning of
Sunday, the 2lst Grey's men, the
42nd and 44th regiments, the second
battalion oflight infantry, and End and
10th dragons, made heavy force. 1t
was not time for muskctry firing,
and Grey had ordered his infantry TO
move the flints from their pieces. He
meant to use cold steel only-bayonet
and sabre. He mado the attack with
ferocity, and the Americans received
him with courage, firing once or often
er with well.directed am. Wayne
was alert and without dismay. He set
his fourth regiment in order, and Gov
cred the retreat of the remainder of
his column. Retiring with these, pres
emily, he collected another body and
made second stand, three hundred
yards distant
The fight lasted but a little while.
1t was night attack-not q surprise"
in any proper sense, and yet such a
sudden charge that the outnumbered
Americans were at great disadvantage.
They had hardly all been reused.
Some were without their Shoes or outer
garments some had not seized their
arms. "The light dragons came on
sword in hand" and struck right and
left. Even the wounded and the sick
were not spared, and many were bayo.
netted after resistance had ceased.
This it was that gave the name, "The
Massacre Of Paoli, and attached q stain,
forever, to the name Of General Grey.
Wayne withdrew with his artillery
and ammunition, and most of his men.
He lost eight wagons loaded with bag
gage, and a considerable number Of
arms. Smallwood had not come up
his men were near, but would not ven
ture to join in new fight.
On Sunday morning, a sorry sight
was presented in the camp. Heavy
rains had fallen since the slaughter at
l o'clock. The farmers OF the neigh
borhoodgathered and found fiity-three
mangled dead, whom they buried on
the spot now marked by the mon
ument.-- Vest Chester Record.