Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-12
ANNIVERSARY OF
BRAMDYW|NE BATTLE
Interesting Sketch Of the Ground
on Which it Was
Fought.

Yesterday being the anniversary OF the
Battle OF the Brandywinc, which was
fought September IL. l777, IL. T. Mason
of 1904 West Sixth street, apropos OF thc
occasion. has furnished Every Evening
with a very interesting account OF the
battle and the field on which It was
fought which WAS written early in the
last century by MISS Leslie Inc S'"'S
runs as follows:
THE FIELD or RRANDYwfNE.
In the summer Of 1887, | visited with
some friends. the memorable location OF
the Rattle of Brandywinc, which, COM
mencinp at Chadd's Ford, was fought IN
a snacc of about four miles, including
Osborne's Hill, the farm OF Samuei
Jones. and the cemetery OF Birmingham
Meeting House, all of which are IN the
yic,n,tv of the large and beautiful village
of West Chester.
II was AT that delightful season when
the close of summer Is blending with the
commencement of autumn that l made
this pilgrimage to place which Is now
classic ground This part Of Chester
county is extremely beautiful, both by
nature and cultivation. II was settled
chiefly bv Quakers and other highly re-
spectahe people, who came over IN the
time of William Penn, and even at TINS
dav the land is mostly occupied by their
descendants There are very few sections
of our ever-changIpg country that retain
30 much of their primitive aspect. In
the depth of one of these lovely valleys |
was shown farm house at least century
old. built like most others IN the neigh
borhood) of dark grey stone, and bearing
every mark of what in America is con-
sidered antiquity In it was born moro
ntrcr nd
whom | am Intimately acquainted IN
Philadelphia and who In mind and con
versation still retains the vigor that has
characterized her through long and
exemplary life.
There is vet standing on Osborne
Hill. A tree. under which Lord Percy
made hastv breakfast on the morning OF
the battle. while the distant sound of the
cannon at Chadd's Ford rose heavily and
distinctly, on the air. IN indication OF the
coming fight. Lord Percy was heir to the
dukedom of Northumberland, and coionei
of one Of the British regiments By
singular coincidence, he had dreamed on
the preceding night. that he was killed
in battle hv a shot from the enemy;
dream which is naturally not unfrequent
with military men engaged IN active
warfare. and which, IN course, often
realIzei IL is said when Lord Percy
reached the summit Of Osbornc's Hull and
looked down upon the surrounding co'in-
trv. he exclaimed ''1'his Is the very place
that | saw IN nv dreaml' Impressed with
the belief that he should never behold the
rising of another sun, he made bequests
of his horse. sword, &c, to some Of his
brother officers, and gave directions with
regard TO the disposal Of his body. In
the afternoon of that day his melancholy
apticipations were indeed fulfilled.
While looking round on this beautiful
country Of hirl and valley. and farm and
forests. iniersected with the clear and
rv,r-winding waters Of the Brandvwinc,
and now reposing IN the calm light Of \
lovely afternoon, my first feeling was 10
wonder how men could have met IN
deadly strife, fighting with desperate
fury, and killing each other IN the midst of
such sweet and tranquil scenery 40
slightly ha. this favored REGION been dis
turbed hy the hand Of change, that so
wears ago. and at the same season, the
Brandvwlne hills must have looked nearly
as they do at present. till the hour arrived
when thev became the theatre of a san
e,linarv and mortal conflict raging round
the homesteads of a sect whose creed
is peace From these heights had been
discerned the glrttenDg bayoncts and
scarlet UNIFORMS Oh LIT approaching tn-
rn,y. and the smoke wreaths that denoted
their frequent encounter with detaCh-
ments of the American Army endeavorng
to arrest their progress. Here had resound-
ed the war drum and the trumpet, the
volIey1ng mrrsket fire. the loud thunder
of cannon, the shouts OF the assailants.
tho shrleks of the wounded, and the
Croans Of the diving Here the meadow
grass had become slippery with blood,
and the orchard came crashing down,
split asunder with shot. Here walls
were overieaped. fences levclled and
barns became temporary fortreSses: so
also did houses deserted by their alright
ed inhabitants; and even the sanctuary
Of the grave ward was invaded.
When we came to Birmingham Meet
,nchouse, we awaited ourselves OF the
offered services of an old gentleman who
has house and grounds on the opposite
side of the road, and who during 40 wears,
exercised the profession OF schoolmaster
Ennion Cooke is still In the enjoyment of
green old age, healthy, alert, intelligent
and kind, and we found him the right sort
of 8 clcerone. He unlocked for us the
venerable westinghouse, In the window
shutters of which are holes made bv bull
lets; and he showed us the dark stains on
one part of the floor. said TO have been
caused t~ the blood of the wounded that
were earned thIther. Some of the benches
on which these sufferers were lad, re-
manned long dscolored with similar
marks
During the battle. the American sol
diers were for while IN possession OF the
Westinghouse yard, and thus fired on their
assaIlants over the stone fence The Bnt-
lsh leaped into the enclosure, and the
fight was obstinately disputed over the
graves of the peaceful followers of William
Penn. Some of the slain were next dav
inferred among them. Our guide informed
us that many wears afterwards in digging
the grave of old Mr.. Jones, be found the
remains of three British officers, designat-
ed as such by the remnants of their
uniform, the buttons being those of the
72nd Regiment. bearing, beside the num-
Der, the stamp of G. r. surrnounted
with crown. These buttons, the old