The sun., 1901-09-11
MEMORIES
AWAKENED
Battle Of Brandywine l24 Years
Ago Today;
"A mile stone near by said:
2 miles to
Chadd's Ford.
2 miles to
Chadd's Ford.

StfetcneS OIL meauOWS over Wnlcn one
hundred and twenty-four years ago, tn,
British rode pell nell, led by Lor,
sornwalis and General Howe, hot il
pursuit Of Washington's army. over th,
fences, cutting their way through iii,
woods and laying waste miles of coun
try about them on that memorable day
September II, 1777, on which was fought
the battle of the Brandywine.
Right along that quiet stream wer,
troops of the struggling colonies. Th,
willows that now fringe the banks wer,
;saplings then. On September Sth. Gen
eral Washington crossed the Brandy
wine and took up position mt Chadd's
Ford General Maxwell was posted Yves,
of the ford. on the road, and General
Armstrong was stationed two miles he
low.
General Washngton's entire force
was hut eleven thousand men. The day
before the battle the British forces united
at Kennett Square. From there in The
evening n part of them advanced toward
Weish'S Tavern. now known ns The
Anvil
son the morning of September II it
was discovered that the whole British
army was in motion. At eleven o'clock
in the morning the movement of Corn
wallis was first announced to Washing
ton. He could obtain no correct intelli-
gence respecting his enemies except tho
firing Of the cannon opposite Chadd's
Ford. 1t was nearly noon when the news
reached him that the enelny was attempt
ing to cross Icfferis' Ford.
"An ancedotc is told of Joseph Brown,
whom General Washington asked to 20
as n guide. Brown was an elderly man
and extremely loath to 90. lie made
every excuse. but nj last at the point nf
: the bayonet mounted a horse. one of
Washington's suite. held for him and
galloped with speed toward Birmingham
Meeting House. The old man was not
used To riding, and ms the horse took
every fence, followed close at his heels
ny Gcneral Washington. you can imagine
h's feelings were not Of delight.
"Thc General was constantly repeating
Push along. old man. Push along.' Soon
bullets began to whiz around their heads,
and the poor old man fell from his horse
with fright. but Washington no longer
needing n gnid", swept on alone to meet
the foe
The host was visible appearing il
grand and imposing array on the field
before him. General CORVALLIS sat on
mis- white horse very erect His rich
scarlet coat loaded with gold lace aud
heavy "naulets made Il brilliant appear
nncc. lie FASTENED forward AMI his first
line opened fire of muskctry and arti.
lcry upon Washington'S troops II was
half-past -four when tho first shot was
fired.
'"Tie Americans returned tho firc with
great injury. For time figl ting was
fierce and terrible, but nj last the brave
Americans We're compelled to give way
Tile confusion became extreme The
troops mt first wavercd, then rallied and
wavered again, hrd Mt last fell into a
diSnrderlv retreat. In vain he tsicd 10
check them. II was all fruitlcss.
"Geeral Washington reappcarcd with
Grcenes division. but they were too late
to avert the disastrous retreat. That
road, pointing with his hand over the
fields 60 the left. was crowded with the
rctreating soldiers going on toward Chcs.
ter. II was clear moonlight night after
the battle, and the scenes on the field
and along the road were horrible. The
field was heaped with dead and wounded
and the blankets and baggage the British
hal brought
"On through Che village and up to Bir-
mingham Meeting House ! went. The
way led straight mp the hill where the
road was banked with bright weeds and
golden rod and the purple iron plant on
past the fields Of corn and clover over
which the bullets flew so many years ago
until we came to a square house of stone
by the side of the road. A flag waved in
front of it, and on one of the old trees
IN the lawn in front was posted. Head
quarters Of General George Washington
September, 1777.'
IL was Il stone house with all about il
the atmosphere Of old Ievolutionary
IaEs."
False sentiment is an odorls thing"
said some historian. '.and il shows itself
intol"rantly in the attitude of men toward
historic places. But not all sentiment is
false. and ! show you with no shame. the
tears which come into my eyes ut the
reco'lpctions of this spot. That morning
when the sun rose. right here. the Mar
aus Lafayette leaped on his horse md
galloped down the road to warn the
troops that the foe was marching, and 1t
was the night before the battle of the
BIandywine that General Washington
stood right hero looking over this now
peaceful valley. then dark and tumul-
tuons. Lafayette by his side. discussing
the plan of attack
clean, looked serene and smiling. as
though il had never witnessed such
bloody scenes as passed before its eyes
those wild. exciting times. The Brandy
Wine lay before me. The sun was direct.
ly aloft and polished the gold Of the grain
and threw pink shade on the purple
clover.
"a short ride took me to tho old Bir-
mingham Meeting House used as hos
pital for the British soldiers after the
battle Of the Brandywne.
Washington ordered il put in condi-
fion for his men. but such is the irony
of life that he had had it prepared for
his bitter foes. no the left of the meet.
ing house in field. arose n tall shaft
of granite. surrounded by an iron railing
This marked the spot where the Knight
of Liberty. the Marquis de Lafayette
was wounded in the battle shot in the
leg.
This field is full Of bitter sweet MEN,
orics. bitter for the cruelties it calls M I;
sweet for the bravery it brings to mind
There is no doubt of the s.vagcry of that
battle. Washington was in no condition
to meet the enemy. and the British attack
was brutal and mercless. Many Ameri-
cans were shot after they had ceased to
resist. The cry for quarter was I'M
needed. The enemy did their work with
barbaroiiS butchery. General Washing
ton lost nine hundred killed and wound
ed. and Lord CORVALLIS lost one hundred
and between three and four hundred were
wnundnI An my lad those wpra py-