Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-19
WHERE GIN. WASHINGTON
FORDED THE BRANDYWINE
John Runner Says the Hero of
, the Revolution Crossed the
Stream at Smiths Ford.
HIS FATHER TOLD HIM THIS
The Place Now Called Smiths
Bridge.

An Aged Citizen of Wilmington Recalls
Many Interesting Incidents Related by
His Father, Who Was Continental Sol
der Under Gen. George Washington.
According to John Runner of No. 300
! Poplar street, Gen. Washington and
his army did, not cross the Brandy
wine, either by ford or bridge. in what
is now the limits of the city OF Will
minton, when the army was on it's
way to the Braodywine battlefield, Just
prior to the memorable battle of Sem
temner 18th, lit. According to Mr.
Runner, the stream was forced at what
is now known as Smiths Bridge, some
distance above Rockland The place
where the army crossed was a regular
ford ana was known as Smiths Ford.
n Mr.. Runner, when seen by reporter
OF The Gazette in regard 10 the
matter, said he obtained bis informa-
tion direct from his father, John +.
Runner. who was private in the Con-
tinental army and one OF the members
of the party which crossed the stream
at the time mentioned. John Runner
j. now "a years of age, but he has
! distinct recollection of incidents re-
lated by his father. He was 81 years
of age when bis father died. Mr.,
Runner said his father took him and
his four brothers to Smith 8 Ford and
showed them where and how the army
crossed He was also told by his
father that, arriving from Newark, the
army passed the night in the vicinity
OF what is now GreenviIle station, on
the Kennstt turnpike. The following
day the march was resumed. The army
passed the Buck tavern, just beyond
the first tollgate On the Kenneth pike,
went along a road leading past what is
now MontchaniD station and upon
reaching the Brandywine marched west
along the south bank of the stream
until IT reached Smiths Ford, where
the men waded across According to
Mr.. Runner, the army did not come any
nearer Wilmington after crossing the
creek but continued on its way.
Mr.. Runner has distinct recollection
u the ford when ho was boy, having
visited 1t many times He says the
water ranged in depth from six inches
to foot. under normal conditions, and
the ford was kept in good shape. Wnen
the water was very high il was next
to an impossibility TO get across. He
remembers when the bridge was built
there. He was burn on his fathers
farm 10 Mill Creek hundred about a
mile and half north of White Cav
Creek Church and lived there until
some time after reaching his maturity,
He has been a resident OF Wilmington
for number Of years, and also lived
In Newark.
John +. Runner. father of John
Runner, was native OF Bucks county,
Pa, but when young man his mother
a luN -
Greek hundred, this State, and divided
it among her children, giving each one
n good-Hized farm. This was a short
time before the breaking out of the
Revolutionary War.
subsequently Mr.. Runner was married
and settled on his farm. short time
after his wedding the war broke out
and Mr.. Runner was one of the first to
answer the summons. He enlisted from
delaware and was in o number of
Laemorable engagements. He was with
Gen. Washington most of the time and
was personally acquainted with him.
His son remembers hearing him speak
OF Gen. Washington many times, and
it was very evident that Mr.. Runner
held Washington in high esteem,
Washington, according to the elder
Runner, was always affable and pleasant
to the soldiers, but unflinching in his
purpose. He was considerable and did
all In his power to relieve the suffer-
ings of his men.
The elder MIR. Runner, in talking to
his family after the war, recalled many
hardships which the soldiers had to
contend with. He remembered that on
one occasion detachment with which
ne was marching was following one
which bad passed over the same road
short time before. There had been
light fall Of snow and bloody foot
prints could be noticed all about, in
uloating that some of the soldiers we're
bhrefooted and the frozen ground and
ice had cut their feet. Mr.. Runner was
fortunate. aside from some of III.
hardshlps with which he had to con-
tend. He was never wounded, although
in several battles and skirmishes.
When the call to arms was Issued the
elder Mr.. Runner was confronted by q
dilemma. He was full of patriotism
and knew that it was his duty as a
loyal American citizen to offer his SER
wees at once. But in going to war he
would be compelled to leave his wife
TO manage the farm. She then had
hree small children and it was a diff
ult problem for her, but she was lust
IS much of patriot and told her hus-
,and she could take care of the farm
and with this assurance Mr.. Runner
went to the front with the feeling that
mis- wife was just as much of soldier
rs he was. And she proved the asser-
tion by what followed. Although her
husband was in the service several
years, she managed the farm well and
Mr.. Runner found it in good, condition
uron his return. Mrs. Runner had
great difficulty at times, though, in
giving the farm and her little family
the attention they demanded, but she
was equal to the emergency and sur
mounted all obstacles.
Patriotism is characteristic OF the
Runner family and has been as far back
as those living can reoollect. John
humer had brother Henry, who served
IN the Mexican War. He was iu seven
battles and in the last one was badly
wounded ia the head. He was able to
get home alive, but complications set
IN and be died shortly afterward. Mr..
Runner had three nephews in the Civil
War, Andraw, William H. and James
Runner, AID, although none of them
was wounded by a bullet, Andrew had
one Of his hands pretty badly burt, his
gun being broken while he was holding
1t. Mr.. Runner says mis- father bore a
striking resemblance to Gen. Meade,
whom he once saw.
Guarantee Building Association.
Senator s. John Abbott and the