Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-10-01
PAOLL.

On the 18th of September, 1777
General Washington, with the main
body of the American army, was al
Warwick Furnace, on the south branch
of French Creek, in the northern part
of Chester county. 1t was six days
after the battle of Brandywine and the
interval had been occupied with vari-
GUS maneuvres by both the American
and British forces, a second battle
having only been prevented by rain
storm which damaged the ammunition
of the Americans, and temporarily rem
dered their arms unfit for service. On
the same date when Washington lay
at Warwick Furnace-the 17tb-the
division OF the British under CORVALLIS,
left in the evening his encampment
along the South Valley Hill, near the
Three Tuns tavern, and advance TO
tho old Lancaster road, in the Great
Valley. Knyphausens division lay
about two miles distant, and the head
quarters Of the Commander-in-C Chief,
General Howe, we're at the Boot Tav-
ern.
1t was on the 18th that Washington
detached General Wayne from the
camp on French Creek, with his divi-
sion, which numbered about fifteen
hundred men, with four field pieces, TO
Join General Smallwood who had com.
mand of the Maryland troops, and was
in the rear of the British army. Wayne
was directed to harass the enemy, TO
cut off their supplies, capture their
baggage train, if possible, and in gen
eral TO detain their movements so that
W ashington might be ready to engage
them, If another fight should seem to
be advisable. Wayne moved at once
on the duty assigned him, and on the
18th Of September encamped on the
historic ground near the General Paoli
tavern, spot about three hundred
yards from the site Of the present mon
ument On the same day the whole
British army had moved down through
the Great Valley, on the Lancaster
and Swcdes' Ford roads, into Trcdyf
frin township, and encamped near the
present village of Howellville, and be.
tween that and Centreville. Wayne
lay about four miles in the rear of the
enemy, in secluded position. The
country was well known to him, for
his birthplace and home was less than
three miles distant. On the next day,
the 18th, he proposed to attack the
outlying forces of the British, and as
their drums beat the reveille, he order
cd his men under arms, and cautiously
approached. He found them, how.
ever, lying so compactly as not Ito
admit of an attack with prudence"
and believing that they were entirely
ignorant OF his presence, be waited
throughout that day and most OF the
goth for an opportunity to strike them.
They "aro very quiet, washing and
cooking" no wrote to Washington, at
10:45 on the morning of the 18th, and
al have taken every prccaution to pre-
vent intelligence getting 70 them"
The Goth OF September, 17i7, fell on
Saturday, as IL did in this year, 1879.
On that day, Wayne received word
that Howe would probably march ut
2 o'clock on Sunday morning, Tor the
Scbuylkill, on his way to Philadelphia.
wane therefore prepared to attack the
British column when IL should be in
motion. II was again raining. The
equinoctial season Of storms was at
hand. His men lay on their arms, in
the camp, with their coats spread over
their imperfect cartridge boxes. His
own horse, saddled and bolstered, was
brought out, ready for mounting, and
his military cloak thrown over the
accoutrements. Colonel Chambers
was sent as a guide TO bring General
Smallwooj and his mon from their po.
stion near the White Horse. Between
8 and 10 o'clock on this September