“Large droves of Cattle & flocks of Sheep go dayly into [the] Enemy …”

Countering British Foraging at Darby, Pennsylvania, 22 to 28 December 1778

John U. Rees

British soldier ready for a march. A good representation of the battalion troops who

took part in the late December foraging operation at Darby.

Artwork by Paul Sandby

The March to Winter Quarters

13 December to 19 December 1777

In mid-December 1777, at the end of a hard campaign, Maj. Gen. William Alexander,

Lord Stirling’s Division, along with the rest of Gen. George Washington's army, entered the

winter cantonment at Valley Forge. Throughout the year the division had served with the

main army, marching back and forth across the Jersey, New York, Delaware, and

Pennsylvania, and participating in the battles of the Short Hills, Brandywine, and

Germantown.1 Composition of Stirling’s Division was as follows:

Lord Stirling's Division, 21 May 1777 (total strength, 1,421, present fit for duty) 9

Brig. Gen. Thomas Conway's Brigade (strength, 677)

3rd Pennsylvania, Colonel Wood (150)

6th Pennsylvania, Col. Henry Bicker (---)

(By year’s end Lt. Col. Josiah Harmar was in command)

9th Pennsylvania, Colonel Morris (205)

12th Pennsylvania, Col. William Cooke (196)

Spencer's Additional Regiment, Col. Oliver Spencer (226)

Malcom’s Additional Regiment, Col. William Malcom

(Attached to brigade 11 October 1777)

Brig. Gen. William Maxwell's Brigade (strength, 744)

1st New Jersey, Col. Matthias Ogden (163)

2nd New Jersey, Col. Israel Shreve (142)

3rd New Jersey, Col. Elias Dayton (173)

4th New Jersey, Col. Ephraim Martin (266)

With General Conway’s promotion to major-general and appointment as army Inspector

General, William Malcom, as senior colonel, took command of the brigade.

An officer of the 4th New Jersey Regiment noted the division’s activities following the

Germantown battle:

we Retiring to P.ki Omy [Perkiomen], from thence to N[orth].W[ales] from thence to the

30 M[ile].S[tone]. on Skipback R[oad]: / the 27.th [actually 22nd] Octob.r Ab.t 1500 men

[including at least part of the Jersey brigade] were Detach.d over S[chuyl]:K[ill]. under

Com.dd [of] M[ajor].G[eneral]. Mc.Dug.l [McDougall] to Attack a Party of Hessians, but

they Retiring on our Approch we Returned to Camp. w[h]ere Continued till the 29.th then

March.d to white M[arsh]. where we lay till the 5.th Dec.r Joind by Part of the N[or]th.n

Army. P[aterson's]. L[earned's]. G[lover's]. & V[arnum's]. Brgds, the E[nem].y then

Advancd to Ch[est].N[u]t. H[ill]. which kept us Under Arms 3 or 4 days, the E[nem].y

Retiring to Q[ua]rtrs. we Movd to Cross [the] S[chuyl].Kl. but were met by the E[nem].y

und[er]. C[omman].d [of] Corn W[allis]. and did not Cross till the following night and

Encamp.t at the Gulf M[il]ls. / ab.t the 11.th [actually the 19th] M[arche].d Ab.t [5?] Miles

and Encampt at V[alley]:F[orge]: 2

Even before their arrival at Valley Forge the troops of Washington's army were showing

the effects of arduous service, poor food, and insufficient clothing. On 13 December a

surgeon wrote, "The army which has been surprisingly healthy hitherto, now begins to grow

sickly from the continued fatigues they have suffered." Their encampment at the Gulph,

where they had arrived on the 13th, after spending the night "in the woods," was not an easy

one. The commissary system had broken down and starvation "rioted in its glory." But in

spite of renewed hardships the troops seemed to "show a spirit of alacrity & contentment not

to be expected." This contentment, however, was exceedingly difficult to maintain

especially in the face of "Poor food - hard lodging - cold weather," compounded by the fact

that the army's baggage, including tents, was not at the Gulph; and a fifth of the army was

nearly naked, "to the amount of at least 2,000, without shoes, stockings, or breeches."3

General Orders, 13 December 1777: "Provisions for tomorrow and the next Day are to be

drawn and cooked. A Gill of Whiskey is to be served to each Officer, Soldier and

Waggoner." When the encampment at the Gulph was reached "the Tents are not to be

pitched but the Axes in the Waggons are to be sent for ... that the Men may make fires and

hutt themselves for the ensuing Night." These huts, variously called "booths," "brush huts,"

and by British troops, "wigwams," were made of brush and the boughs of trees stacked

together, hardly a weatherproof covering.4

The 16th of December was a "cold, rainy day," and, as there was still indecision

concerning a permanent winter encampment, General Washington ordered "the tents to be

carried to the encampment of the troops & pitched immediately." Despite the meager

comfort this shelter afforded there was scant rest for the men. Both foot soldiers and light

horse were constantly on picket duty. Here at the Gulph desertion reached an alarming scale

with American defectors, most of them foreign born, continually making their way to British

held Philadelphia, "sometimes to the number of fourteen and fifteen in a day." Many more

simply went home.5

General orders, 17 December 1777: "The Commr. in Chief with the highest satisfaction

expresses his thanks to the Officers and Soldiers for the fortitude and patience with which

they have sustained the fatigues of the Campaign. Altho' in some Instances we unfortunately

failed, upon the whole Heaven hath smiled upon our Arms, and crowned them with signal

success ... we stand not wholy upon our own Ground, [for] France yields us every Aid we

ask, and there are Reasons to believe the Period is not very distant when she will [declare]

War against the British Crown ... The Genl. wishes it was in his power to conduct the Troops

into the best Winter Quarters but where are those to be found [except in the] interior parts of

the Country ..." If, however, the army was to retreat further into Pennsylvania, already

overburdened by refugees, it would "leave a vast Extent of fertile Country to be dispoiled of

and ravaged by the Enemy." To occupy such a post near Philadelphia would entail hardships

for the troops but "with activity and diligence Hutts may be erected that will be warm and

dry." Washington promised that he "himself will share in the Hardships and partake of every

inconvience. tomorrow being set apart by the Honble. Congress for publick Thanksgiving

and praise & Duty calling us Devoutly to Express our grateful acknowledgements to God for

the manyfold blessings he has granted us. the Genl. begs that the army remain in its prest.

Quarters and that the Chaplains perform Divine Service with their several Corps and

Brigades and earnestly exhorts all Officers and Soldiers whosoever is not Indispensable [sic]

necessary to attend with Reverence of the Day."6

The weather on 18 December was overcast and misty with a cold rain. By declaration of

Congress this was to be the day of general thanksgiving. Some men were lucky enough to

feast on roast pig while others received only "half a gill of rice and a tablespoonful of

vinegar."7

Finally on the 19th, a day of "stormy winds and piercing cold" with ice forming on the

roads, the army moved from the Gulph. At 10 o'clock in the morning the army marched

west on the old Gulph Road. For the more than 2,000 men who were barefoot the rutted and

frozen road must have been agony. During the day a fine, light snow began to fall, blown by

bitter winds, which only added to the mens' misery. Given the difficult conditions the last of

the men reached the new camp at Valley Forge by nightfall, less than seven hours after the

head of the column had started from Gulph Mills. Tents were pitched for the night and some

brush huts built, but many men, having no blankets, sat up through the night beside fires to

keep from freezing. There was almost nothing to eat and, for some men, nothing even to

drink since they were unfamiliar with the water sources in the area and night was coming

on.8

The next day the ground was covered with snow and the weather was cold. On this, the

army's first full day at Valley Forge, the division commanders and engineers surveyed the

ground and decided on the positions for the men's huts. A prize of twelve Spanish dollars

was offered by General Washington for the first well constructed hut finished in each

regiment; by the end of the day some huts were begun. By nightfall of the 21st the first hut

was finished; it would not be until late in January or early February that the last of the men

would leave their tents for more permanent shelter.9

General Orders, Valley Forge

20 December to 25 December 1777 10

20 December 1777: On the army's first full day at Valley Forge Major General Lord Stirling

"accompanied by the Ingenieurs are to view the Ground attentively and fix upon the proper

spott for hutting ... the Engenieurs after this are to mark the ground out and direct the Field

Officers appointed to Superintend the Building for each Brigade where they are to be placed,

the Soldiers in cutting their fire wood are to Save such parts of each Tree as will do for

building, Reserving sixteen and 18 feet of the Trunk for Logs to Rear their Huts ... The Q:M:

Genl. is to collect as soon as possible all the Tents not now used by the Troops [and] as soon

as they are Hutted all the residue of the Tents & have them wash'd and dried & laid up in

store such as are good for the next Campaign ..."

22 December 1777: "Major Genl. Sulivan having obligingly undertaken the Direction of a

Bridge to be built over the Schuylkill is to be excused from the common duties of the Camp.

The old and new Field Officers of the day are to be punctual as to time in their attendance at

the mounting of the Picquets that the Duty may go on Regularly and the men not be detained

on the parade. It is expressly ordered that the Officers and Men who go on Picquet to take

their provisions with them as none will be allowed to come off to get any. As the proper

arming of the Officers would add considerable to the army and the Officers themselves

derive great confidence from being armed ... The General orders every one to provide

himself with a half pike or Spear as soon as possible ... that these half pikes may be of one

length and uniformely made the Brigadiers are to meet at Genl. Maxwells Quarters

tomorrow morning at 10 oClock and direct their size and form. The Quartr. mastr. Genl. is to

provide a number of Pails that every Hutt may have one. Every Soldier found discharging

his Musket without Leave ... is to receive 20 Lashes immediately upon the Spot." After

Orders: "A Captain, Subaltern and twenty men from each brigade, together with the Brigade

Commissaries and their waggons, are to parade forthwith in the road and field near the

Bake-house by Head Quarters, and take instructions from Col. Stewart, Commissary

General of Issues."

25 December: "Every Regiment is to draw provision to compleat their rations for

tomorrow."

On 23 December 1777 Malcolm's (formerly Conway's) Brigade of Stirling's Division

listed four out of six regiments listing a total of 151 men "Unfitt for duty for want of shoes."

(Two of the six regiments made no return, it being "Suppose[d] the order [was] not

understood.") The total rank and file for the four regiments who made returns was 415.

Maxwell's Brigade listed 60 privates under Colonel Barber, 59 under Colonel Rhea (2d

Jersey), 19 under Colonel Martin, and 28 under Colonel Ogden "unfit for want of shoes,"

giving a total of 166 out 573 privates in the Jersey Brigade who needed footwear.11

On Christmas Day 1777 there was not much cause for celebration. Most of the men were

still in tents and a return made two days before showed 2,898 men unfit for duty because of

the lack of shoes or clothing - almost one man in four. In addition, there was no rum to

offset the dismal weather and a heavy snow fall continued through the night, finally leaving

four inches on the ground. By 30 December another four inches of snow had fallen and the

temperatures were colder, with the Schuylkill River having frozen solid.12

Early war Continental soldier wearing a military cocked hat, regimental coat, breeches, and

carrying a blanket sling (tumpline) in lieu of a knapsack. Illustration by George C.

Woodbridge, from George C. Neumann, Swords and Blades of the American Revolution

(Texarkana, TX, 1991).

Capt. John André’s map of the movements of the British Army, August to November 1777.

Valley Forge is at the top, far left; Darby is center right, between Philadelphia and Chester.

Countering the "depredations of the Enemy"

22 December to 28 December 1777

Lord Stirling’s Division was not at Valley Forge to pass Christmas, one New Jersey

officer writing that on the "10th [actually 22nd] Dec.r the Division Sent on Comm[an].d

[i.e.’ detached duty or special service] below Radnor Returned the last [of] Dec.r ..." On 23

December Stirling wrote from "[Pennsylvania militia] Genl. [James] Potters Qrs./Radnor/ ...

5 oClock" that "I have arrived here with my division about an hour ago ..." Stirling's entire

division, augmented by a contingent from "Each brigade thro' the line" (a total of fifteen

brigades), marched to Radnor. The men in the added contingents were to consist of "a good

partizan Captain, two Sub[altern]s, three Serjeants, three Corporals and fifty privates, all

picked men, fit for annoying the enemy in light parties." These parties were ordered on the

22d "to parade immediately and to be furnished with a full supply of ammunition of 40

rounds each"; they were to "take orders from Lord Stirling."13

As early as 10 December Washington had been directed by Congress to "subsist his Army

from such parts of the Country as are in its vicinity and especially from such quarters ...

most likely to be subjected to the ... depredations of the Enemy" and about the 15th of the

month directions were sent to "The Officers Ordered to Remove Provisions from the

Country Near the Enemy." These officers were ordered to gather in "the Stock and Grain of

every kind which would be Servicable to [the enemy], to places of security" and advised that

"These duties are important and interesting, and it is expected will have your pointed

attention, as a regular discharge of them will not only contribute to the more easy support of

our own Troops, aid our supplies from the more interior parts of the Country, but will also

distress the Enemy, and prevent that injurious ... intercourse too prevalent between them and

a number of disaffected Inhabitants." It was concerning this matter that the commander in

chief wrote to Brig. Gen. James Potter of the Pennsylvania militia: "I think it of the greatest

consequence to have what Hay remains upon the Islands above the mouth of Derby Creek

destroyed ... as we cannot remove it ... [In this way] we shall probably oblige [the enemy] to

come out into the Country to forage, which will perhaps give us an opportunity of cutting

off a party. This mode I leave intirely to Colo. [Daniel] Morgan [commanding the "Corps of

Rangers" or Rifle Corps] and yourself."14

The decision to detach Stirling's division to Potter's aid was induced on the 22d when

"The Enemy marched out of Philadelphia this morning early with a considerable Body.

Their intent is said to be to forage, but ... they may have something further in view ... They

encamp this Evening near Derby."15

Grenadier Capt. John Peebles, 42d Regiment, described

the move from the British side:

Sunday, 21 December 1777: "... preparing for a forageing party. Orders - The following

Corps are to hold themselves in readiness to march by the left on the shortest notice in the

followg Order - 1st. & 2d. Light Infantry - British Grenadrs - Hessian do. Half of the Corps

of Yagers Mounted & dismounted - 3d. Brigade 17th. 42d. & 44th. with 4 six po[unde]rs. -

4th. Brigade 33d. 46th. & 64th. with 2 6 pors. 5th Brigade 7th. 26th. & 63d. with 4 3 pors.

Two Battns. of Anspach with yr. Guns, - 2d. Brigade 5th. & 27th. with 2 6 pors. - 1st.

Brigade 28th. & 49th. with 2 6 pors. - 1st Battn. Guards with their Guns Grenr. & Light

Infantry Compys. - 4 light 12 pors. from the Park at the head of the 3d. Brigade - 2 howitzers

at the head of the Guards - 17th. Dragoons at the head of the British Grrs. - 16th. Dragoons

in the rear of the Guards to take with them their Carrabines & swords only an Offr. & 12

from each regt. Dragoons to be left here - Each Corps to take with them the whole of their

Waggons, two of which may be loaded with Baggage, ye others empty ... The Genl. Offrs,

that march with the Army are Major Genls. Grant & Gray & Brigr. Genl. Leslie, His Excelly

Genl. Kniphausen to take the Command of the lines & Garrison with Major Genl. Sterne &

Brigr. Mathew - After Orders ... The Troops under Orders of March are to be in readiness to

move tomorrow Morng. at day break, the Corps that remain behind are also to send all their

Waggons except one pr. Battn or Corps - all the ... Waggons to be drawn up on ... the road

leading to Grays ferry ..."16

Monday, 22 December 1777: “The Troops put in Motion ... & crost the Schuylkill by the

bridge at Grays ferry & moved on the Chester road till the front past Darby - the Light

Infantry took post on the heights to the sou[thwar]d. of it & the Grrs. to No[rthwar]d. the rest

of the Troops posted all along the road from the ferry to Darby, while the Waggons are

employ'd in carrying forage to Town - Orders - Headqrs. at Swedes Meeting house / the line

to be in readiness to turn out at the shortest notice ... The Object of this Movement being to

Collect forage for the Army ..." 17

Capt. John Montresor, Royal Engineers and aide to Lt. Gen. Sir William Howe: "22d.

[December 1777] Sir William Howe moved out from Philadelphia with 7000 men across the

Schuykill over the 2 floating bridges and so to Darby leaving Lt. General Kniphuysen in

command at Philadelphia."18

Capt. John André, 26th Regiment and aide to Maj. Gen. Charles Grey, added a few

more details: “22nd The pontoon bridge having been laid over the Schuylkill, a

considerable body was appointed to the defense of the lines, and the Army marched

across the river, and hutted to an extent of three miles from Derby to Grey's Ferry. The

wagons were employed in the rear in collecting forage, which was conveyed to the

Philadelphia side of the Schuylkill.”19

Probable Wagon Types Used in the December 1777 Foraging at Darby

“Drawing of a light Waggon, to carry Provisions, Baggage &c, the Floor & Sides,

instead of Boards, being twisted with Rope, made of old Junck.” The English

reduced wagon recommended by British Superintendent of Wagons and Horses

Francis Rush Clark to replace the cumbersome large English wagons. "Narrative of

Occurences, relative to His Majesty's Provision Train in North America," (circa

1778), Francis Rush Clark Papers (no. 2338), Sol Feinstone Collection, Courtesy of

the David Library of the American Revolution, Washington Crossing, Pa.

The "large English" wagons were transshipped from Britain in 1776; by 1777 they were deemed to

heavy for use on campaign. They were likely similar in size and style to English carrier’s wagons of

the period. This example, built at Colonial Williamsburg and completed in late 2007, weighs

approximately 2,700 pounds, close to the 1,300 pounds recorded for the military vehicles. (Wagon

constructed by the Colonial Williamsburg wheelwright shop; photo courtesy of same.)

"A Philadelphia Waggon" used by the British army in Pennsylvania. The side note says, “A great

number of the Country Waggons, have straight sides, but are put together in a most clumsy manner.”

"Narrative of Occurences, relative to His Majesty's Provision Train in North America," (circa 1778),

Francis Rush Clark Papers (no. 2338), Sol Feinstone Collection, David Library of the American

Revolution. Drawing courtesy of the David Library, Washington Crossing, Pa.)

Capt. John André’s map of the Darby foraging operation, showing troop dispositions, 22

December 1777.

In a 23 December note Lord Stirling continued, "I find Colonel Morgan went out Early

this Morning (with his own Corps, the fifteen parties detached last Night & part of Genl.

Potters [Pennsylvania] Militia) towards the Enemy ... by what I can Collect the Enemy are

Encamped with their Right at the Sweeds Church, & their left at Darby, which makes a front

of about a Mile & [a] Quarter. They keep Close to their line, no Waggons appear on this

side of them; on the Whole I believe they are busy Carrying off the Hay & forrage from the

Neck & the Islands between Derby Creek & [the] Schuylkill, as their position Covers that

part Compleatly. The Troops here (even Potters included) I find are Intirely without

provision, some Grain & Spirits are between this & the Enemy; I have therefore sent for all

my Waggons from Camp to Carry it off. The Militia &c have been so frequently & so long

in this Quarter that everything Else is Consumed ... [Postscript] If provision (Beef I mean) is

in Camp some should be sent."20

Capt. John Peebles, 42d Regiment, 23 December: "fine Moderate frosty weather, the Troops

continue in the same position, & Waggons in carrying forage, all quiet in & about Camp -"21

Capt. John André, aide to Maj. Gen. Charles Grey: “23rd 4000 men under Smallwood

were said to be at Wilmington, and Morgan with his riflemen was said to be about 4

miles off in front. 13 horses and 11 men of the 17th dragoons were taken on a patrol. The

two men whose horses were taken came in on foot. It seems they had crossed a bridge

and were intercepted at their return by a body of horse and foot of the enemy.”22

On the 24th Captain Peebles noted "this Morng. the Rebels catched 10 or 12 of our Light

Dragoons, who were out on a scout, & fell in with a Post of the Rebels, who pursued them

into a swamp ..." Lord Stirling wrote of that incident the same day from "Genl. Potters

Quarters [7 O'Clock AM]": "Yesterday Afternoon a party of the Enemy's light horse (abt 10

of them) took two of Capt. [Henry] Lee's light horse [1st Continental Dragoons], one of

whom made his Escape, between Darby & Chester; this one gave Intelligence of this party

to Col. [Richard] Butler [of the Rifle Corps] who was out with a party in that Quarter, on

which he proceeded towards the White Horse on that Road, & discovering a Vadet [vidette]

near the House, Col Butler diveded His troops so to shut up every Avenue except towards

the Meadows. The Enemy were soon Alarmed, and finding their Retreat Cut off every other

Way betook themselves to the Marsh, and passed Several Ditches, but at last Comeing to a

Wider One, only five ... Could Clear it, Among whom were the Officers, ten Riders &

Eleven Horse were Taken, two Horses remain in the Marsh ... I have wrote to Colonel

Morgan in order to Consult with him how it will be best to employ the Troops. On further

Inquiry, there is really no beef or pork to be had in this Neighbourhood, wherefore some

should be sent, as to flower I am in hopes we shall make out to Supply ourselves."23

Capt. John André, aide to Maj. Gen. Charles Grey: “24th In the morning a few shots were

fired by sentries of the 1st light infantry, at a party of the rebels who passed along their

front. Several cannon shot were heard in the afternoon, towards Philadelphia. We

afterwards heard the rebels had shewn themselves on the right of the lines, and fired a

few shots into the town.”24

At 6 P.M. on December 25th Stirling again informed Washington of his troops’ doings. "I

found Col. Morgan with His Corps & Six Companies of the 15 detached parties and the

Militia have posted themselves in the front and on the left flank of the Enemy in sight of

them, I therefore sent off Colonel [William] Malcolm with the Lt Cols. [Francis] Barber &

[Josiah] Harmer with 300 Men to the Vicinity of Marshalls Mills, which will Cover our

forraging parties, and be sufficant to destroy any of theirs which may Venture out; what is

become of the Rest of those 15 parties [one from each brigade in the army] I know not but

had they been formed under three field Officers & put under the direction of Col. Morgan

they Might have been of Use. The light Horse taken Yesterday with several Light Infantry,

Negroes, &c I have orderd to be sent to head Quarters tomorrow Morning. The Arms and

boots of the Light Horse I have Allowed Capt [Henry] Lee to retain for the Benefit of his

Troop till your further order. The Horses (13 in Number with every thing Else) are to go to

Head Quarters in the Morning. Col. Morgans opinion that the Enemy mean Nothing more

than to forage the Neck & Islands I mentioned in my last, that our forces are well posted,

and sufficient to Answer every purpose till they Adopt other Measures. I am of his opinion,

and that with our Whole Army, it would be imprudent to Attack them in their present

position, indeed from what I know of the Ground I think they have taken a post of defiance;

yet I am in hopes of picking up some of their Straglers on their Right as I hear they behave

Carelessly there, we are now well Supplyed with Bread & Meat and Notwith[stand]ing what

I was told yesterday I belive we shall make a very good forraging tomorrow Morning with

all the Waggons of my Division, I wish some more Waggons were sent, I will find loads for

them which may otherwise fall into the hands of the Enemy ... [Postscript] I write in a Noisy

Crowd, therefore Excuse this scrawl."25

Capt. John André, troop dispositions, 25 December 1777.

Capt. John Peebles, 42d Regiment, Thursday, 25 December 1777: "Xmass. Very pleasant

weather for the season ... the Waggons still busy carryig home forage - this Morng. the Light

horse kill'd 3, wounded 2 & took 5 of the Rebels - some Battalions moved further down on

the Chester road to cover the Waggons below Darby Creek ... Xmass not intirely forgot"26

Capt. John André, aide to Maj. Gen. Charles Grey: “[December] 25th Major-General

Grant, with four Battalions of Infantry, the 17th Light Dragoons, and eight of the Light

Companies, took post on the South side of Derby Creek, covering a quantity of meadowland

from which the forage was taken. On approaching the ground they saw a command of the

Rebels, which soon dispersed, leaving a few killed and wounded on the field. Two or three

were taken on the field. At night General Grant returned to Camp.”27

Capt. John André, troop dispositions, 26 December 1777.

On the 26th at 7 P.M. Stirling wrote from General Potters quarters: "I have just received

your Excellencys letter of this date by Lt. Col. [William Lee] Davidson [of the 5th North

Carolina Regiment]. I have sent the three field [officers] down to Col. Morgan [who is] to be

the Command[er] of the three divisions of the 15 detachments according to An

Arrangement I made of them this Morning & according to their Several States. In answer to

your Excellency's Querie, I do not see, that any Attempt can be made with a probility of

Success unless it be on those [enemy] troops which are advanced to Knowles's within a Mile

of the White Horse on the Road from Derby to Chester. I think a body of fifteen Hundred

fresh Chosen Men from Camp Might push in about a Mile below Derby / While the Troops

we have here make an Attack on every other part of their line as a feint and then turn to the

Right & briskly Sweep all before them and retreat thro' Ridley & Upper Providence. I think

the Experiment might be tried without danger to our Main Army. The Troops I have with

me are now all except abt 100 Men Stationed from the five Mile Stone on the Lancaster

Road to Near the White Horse at 11 Mile stone on the Chester Road, but the Enemy keep so

Close to their lines, we have no Chance of Catching any of them." Enclosed with this letter

was a memorandum concerning the conditions in the area Stirling's troops occupied: "When

I came here first I was told that the Country was Exhausted Not an Ounce of flower nor a

head of Cattle nor a Sheep to be had, that this Country was Starveing because there was

Nothing left. I am now told that large droves of Cattle & flocks of Sheep go dayly into [the]

Enemy by Way of Marcus Hook & Grubbs Landing and I am Convinced there are Still large

Stocks of both in those Quarters but fine Speeches & Excuses have deceived those who

have Commanded here. The people of the Country even those who pretend to be our best

friends hide their Stocks from us, and some of them have this day told me what I really

believe to be the true Cause of it vizt from the Enemy they are sure to get hard Money for it,

on the Contrary when our Certificates are produced to the Commissary of purchases at

Camp, they are treated with the Utmost Contempt. The people are told to Call again &

again. Till tired of Makeing further application & in dispair of payment they go home with a

ditermination to Sell to the Enemy rather than to us, this Evil Might be Cured by ordering

the Commissary & the forrage M[aster] G[eneral] to pay of[f] Certificates at first Sight &

lay aside that Imperious behaviour which all the World Concerned with our Army Complain

of. As a further encouragement to the people of this Quarter It would be expedient

immediately to send a D[eputy] Commissary of purchases with Money in his pocket to be

Stationed at a proper place in this Neighbourhood to receive & pay for all the produce the

people bring in wether provision or forrage, this will Cut off all their pretences & Excuses &

then If a Sufficiency of Waggons be sent, I will engage to Glean the Country Compleatly.

The Excuses for going into Philadelphia with provisions are innumerable but I stop them all

& give their provisions to our Troops."28

Capt. John Peebles, 42d Regiment, Friday, 26 December 1777: "Genl. Gray with 7 or 8 Battns.

moved down the Chester road as far as the 10 Mile stone to cover the foragers, we returned in the

Eveng to our Ground near the Blue Bell"29

Capt. John André, aide to Maj. Gen. Charles Grey: “26th General Grey marched with six

Battalions, and took a position about three miles from Derby in order to bring away some forage ... In

the Evening General Grey returned to Camp.”30

Captain Peebles, Saturday, 27 December 1777: "a good deal of rain last night but not cold, the day

moderate & fair - in the Eveng got orders to change our ground in order to shorten the line. We

moved just across the Creek at the Blue Bell and went down into the wood, but for want of Waggons

or by some mistake we did not get to our ground till near 10 OClock at night, when it was exceeding

cold, with a sharp NW wind & not a bit of shelter for the men / orders to be ready to move in the

Morng"31

Captain André : “27th The remainder of the forage within our compass was brought in, and in the

evening the Corps on the South side of Derby Creek were withdrawn across the bridges, and the 17th

and 42nd Regiments were brought across Cobb's Creek. The Light Infantry were posted between

Derby and Cobb's Creek. It snowed very hard.”32

Capt. John André, troop dispositions, 27 December 1777.

Two final American accounts concerning the British foraging expedition were written on

December 28th. Lt. Col. Francis Barber’s note to his division commander gave notice of the

enemy’s departure. "My Lord By [nos.?] Deserted from the Enemy [they] apparently

moved for Phila. at 10 oClo. last night - [The Parties which I] sent out before Day have not

yet returned - By their [staying] I suppose they have marched to Darbee or farther ... I am

sorry your Lordship can not be made certain of the Enemy's Departure, our own Parties

being not yet returned."33

Maj. Gen. William Alexander, Lord Stirling wrote General Washington from Radnor, noon

on the 28th, "I received your Excellency['s] letter of Yesterday's date. The enclosed Note I

received about an hour ago from Colonel Barber the same Intelligence is Confirmed by

another Come in to another Quarter. I have sent out what light [horse?] were here for further

Confirmation of it, and have ordered the Troops in Case it be true immediately to Search

every house within their late lines for Straglers of which I do not doubt they will find Many

who Shelter themselves from the Stormy weather. There are several Substantial people who

have been dealing largely with the Enemy for provisions about Chester, Marcus Hook, &c, I

propose getting them taken tomorrow ... an Example or two of these principals will have a

better Effect than the punishment of fifty of the small pedlars; these have dealt by wholesale.

Our Men are almost worn out, but they bear it patiently & I wish I could Indulge them with

some whiskey but there is not a drop here."34

Shortly after this Stirling's detachments returned to the Valley Forge camp to finish their

huts and settle into the routine of a winter cantonment.

Capt. John Montresor, Royal Engineers and aide to Lt. Gen. Sir William Howe, 28

December: "Sunday, Wind N. East, weather soft with 4 inches of Snow. The troops with the

Com. in Chief returned to this city after a very successful Foraging Party, 200 Tons of Hay

& taking this day 2 officers and 37 men of the rebels advanced guard."35

Capt. John Peebles, 42d Regiment, Sunday, 28 December 1777: "it snow'd all last night &

was very cold, - the Troops march'd in the Morng. & after seeing all the Waggons over the

Pontoon Bridge at Grays ferry the Bridge was taken up, & the troops with their Guns came

by the Bridge at Middle ferry & return'd to their respective old ground at the lines [of

redoubts above Philadelphia] - it snow'd all day & it was Eveng. before we got home - a

small party of Rebels [was] taken to day / Thus ended the long foraging party which

continued a Week, in which time it is suppos'd was carried into Town between 3 & 400 ton

of Hay every day, which makes above 2000 ton ..."36

Capt. John André, aide to Maj. Gen. Charles Grey: “28th At about 8 in the morning the

Army marched towards Philadelphia. The Light Infantry took post above the bridge at

Grey's until it was taken up, whilst the rest of the Army marched to Middle Ferry, where

they halted until the Light Infantry came up, when the whole crossed the Schuylkill ... A

party of the Rebels which was approaching, in hopes of firing upon the rear of the Column,

was decoyed nearer than they were aware, by a Dragoon who personated a Rebel horseman;

twenty-nine of them were taken. It snowed and was very cold the whole day.”37

________________

Captain Peebles, Monday, 29 December 1777: "cold NW [wind] & very keen frost …”38

Capt. André: “29th Very hard frost.

30th The Army came into Winter Quarters in Philadelphia."39

_________________________________

“A Virginian Rifleman,” 1777 campaign. Col. Daniel Morgan’s Rifle Corps served

with the Continental forces opposing the Darby forage.

Drawing by Lt. Richard St George Mansergh St George, 52d Regiment of Foot.

(For more information see, Brother Jonathan’s Images, No. 9 Virginia Rifleman (John U. Rees)

Artist: Richard St George Mansergh St George, 52d Regiment of Foot, 1777 Year: 1777

Collection: Harlan Crow Library, Dallas, Texas (purchased from the estate of Arthur E. Bye, Bucks County, Pennsylvania)

https://www.scribd.com/doc/245356391/Brother-Jonathan-s-Images-No-9-St-George-s-Virginia-Rifleman-Artist-Richard-St-George-Mansergh-St-George-52d-

Regiment-of-Foot-1777-Collection )

Endnotes

1. For the June to October 1777 experiences of Stirling’s Division see:

"’We ... wheeled to the Right to form the Line of Battle’: Colonel Israel Shreve's Journal, 23

November 1776 to 14 August 1777 (Including Accounts of the Action at the Short Hills)” Contents

1. “The Enemy Came out fired several Cannon At our Pickets”: Journal Entries, 23 November

1776 to 25 June 1777

2. Composition of Maj. Gen. William Alexander, Lord Stirling's Division, Summer 1777

3. “Our Canister shot Did Great Execution.”: The Battle of the Short Hills: Journal Entries 26 to

28 June 1777

4. “There was a steady fire on us from out of the bushes …”: A German Officer’s View of

Operations in New Jersey, 24 to 28 June 1777

5. “A smart engagement ensued …”: A British Private’s View of the Short Hills Battle

6. "I propose leaving Colo. Daytons and Ogden's Regts. at Elizabeth Town … for the present ...”:

Movements of the 1st and 3d New Jersey Regiments, July and August 1777

7. “Crossed Delaware [River], halted At Doctor Enhams …”: Final Journal Entries, 29 July to 14

August 1777

Addenda

1. Listing of Field Officers, Commissioned Officers, and Staff of the 2d New Jersey Regiment

December 1776 to December 1777

2. Company Strengths and Dispositions, Colonel Israel Shreve's 2d New Jersey Regiment

December 1776 to December 1777

3. 2d New Jersey Regiment, Monthly Strength as Taken From the Muster Rolls, December

1776 to December 1777

4. 2d New Jersey Regiment, Company Lineage, 1777 to 1779

5. “The Troops of this Army … Appear to Manoeuvre upon false principles …”: The State of

Continental Army Field Formations and Combat Maneuver, 1777

6. Composition of British Columns at the Short Hills Action, 26 June 1777; Organization of

British Light Infantry and Grenadier Battalions, Spring and Summer 1777

7. “I have sent down Lord Stirling's Division, to reinforce Genl. Maxwell …”: Summer

Campaign Letters, Gen. George Washington and Virginia Captain John Chilton, plus the

role of “late Ottendorff’s Corps,” 22 to 29 June 1777

8. “At sunrise the fire began …”: New Jersey Brigade Accounts of the 1777 Philadelphia

Campaign

9. "Without Covering but the H[eaven's].C[anop].y and boughs of Trees …": 4th New Jersey

Officer's Diary, 21 June 1777 to 18 February 1778 (plus Journal of Ensign George Ewing, 3d New

Jersey, 1777-1778)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/153790118/%E2%80%99We-wheeled-to-the-Right-to-

form-the-Line-of-Battle%E2%80%99-Colonel-Israel-Shreve-s-Journal-23-

November-1776-to-14-August-1777-Including-Accounts-of 2. Revolutionary war diary by anonymous New Jersey officer, Fellows Papers, box 2,

Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Rush Rhees Library, University of

Rochester.

3. John F. Reed, Campaign to Valley Forge, July 1, 1777-December 19, 1777 (Philadelphia:

Pioneer Press, 1965), 391, 392. George Ewing, The Military Journal of George Ewing

(1754-1824) a Soldier of Valley Forge (privately printed by Thomas Ewing, Yonkers, N.Y.,

1928), 24; George Ewing was an ensign in the 3rd New Jersey Regiment as of 5 June 1777.

4. Valley Forge Orderly Book of General George Weedon ... in the Campaign of 1777-8

(New York: Arno Press, 1971), 155. When caught without tents the soldiers of

Washington's Army often constructed temporary shelters for themselves. Jeremiah

Greenman, a soldier in a Rhode Island regiment, wrote on 26 November 1777 that the

troops were "Continuing in ye woods near haddonfield ... we built buth [a booth] to lay in

very cold." Four days later Greenman "... at night came to wite ma[r]sh ware we built up

housan of branchis & leavs to keep ye rain off but not much good." (These booths or

"housan" have been described as "a temporary dwelling covered with boughs, canvas, or

other slight material.") Xavier Della Gatta's painting of the "Battle of Paoli" clearly shows

the American troops living in such shelters made of brush and stacked in a conical shape.

Robert C. Bray and Paul E. Bushnell, eds., Diary of a Common Soldier in the American

Revolution: An Annotated Edition of the Military Journal of Jeremiah Greenman, (DeKalb,

Il., 1978), 87-88, 98, note 131; Washington to Thomas Blanch, 24 August 1780, John C.

Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources

1745-1799, 19 (Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office, 1937), 433-434; Richard

M. Ketchum, ed., The American Heritage Book of the American Revolution (New York,

1958), 225, painting of "Battle of Paoli" by Xavier Della Gatta, 1782, from the collections of

the Valley Forge Historical Society. This rendering shows clearly a representation of brush

huts or booths in the American camp. For more information on Continental Army brush

shelters see John U. Rees, "We ... got ourselves cleverly settled for the night ...": Soldiers'

Shelter on Campaign During the War for Independence, part V, “`We built up housan of

branchis and leavs ’: Continental Army Brush Shelters, 1775-1777”:

Contents:

A. "This night we lay out without shelter ...”: Overview of American Soldiers' Campaign Lodging”

B. "We maid us some Bush huts ...": Brush Shelters, 1775 and 1776.

C. "Huts of sticks & leaves": Washington's Army in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, 1777.

Military Collector & Historian, vol. 55, no. 4 (Winter 2003-2004), 213-223.

http://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/huts5.pdf 5. Reed, Campaign to Valley Forge, 392-393.

6. Valley Forge Orderly Book, 158-160.

7. John B.B. Trussell, Jr., Birthplace of an Army: A Study of the Valley Forge Encampment

(Harrisburg: Penna. Museum and Historical Commission, 1983), 15. Reed, Campaign to

Valley Forge, 394-395.

8. Trussell, Birthplace of an Army, 15. Reed, Campaign to Valley Forge, 395.

9. Trussell, Birthplace of an Army, 17-20.

10. Weedon, Valley Forge Orderly Book, 160-167. General orders, 22 December 1777, John

C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript

Sources 1745-1799, 10 (Washington, D.C., GPO, 1933), 192.

11. "Field Return of the Brigade comdd by Col. Malcom" (formerly Conway's Brigade), and

"A Return of the Brigade Belonging to Lord Stirlings Division Dec 23d 1777" (return of

Maxwell's New Jersey Brigade), Rev War Rolls, reel 136, item nos. 136, 137. Regimental

returns, 20 May 1777, and General orders, 11 October 1777, Fitzpatrick, Writings of George

Washington, 8 (1933), 171; 9 (1933), 353.

12. Trussell, Birthplace of an Army, 18.

13. Revolutionary war diary by anonymous New Jersey officer, Fellows Papers, box 2,

Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Rush Rhees Library, University of

Rochester. William Alexander, Lord Stirling, to Washington, 23 December 1777, George

Washington Papers, Presidential Papers Microfilm, (Washington, D.C., 1961), series 4, reel

46. General orders, 22 December 1777, Fitzpatrick, Writings of George Washington, 10

(1933), 189-192.

14. 10 December 1777 Congressional Resolve, transcribed in Washington to his officers

(circular letter), 15 December 1777; Washington to James Potter, 21 December 1777, ibid,

162-163.

15. Washington to William Smallwood, 22 December 22, 1777, ibid.,182-183.

16. December 1777 journal entries, Papers of Lt., later Capt., John Peebles of the 42d.

Foot ("The Black Watch"), 1776-1782; incl. 13 notebooks comprising his war journal,

book #4, pp. 40-44, Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh; Cunninghame of Thorntoun

Papers (GD 21/492) (microfilm edition in the collections of the David Library of the

American Revolution). See also edited version, Ira D. Gruber, ed., John Peebles' American

War: The Diary of a Scottish Grenadier, 1776-1782 (Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pa.,

1998), 256.

17. Ibid.

18.. G.D. Scull, ed., "Journals of Captain John Montresor," Collections of the New-York

Historical Society, volume XIV (1881) (New York, 1882), 480.

19. C. DeW. Willcox, ed., Major André's Journal - Operations of the British Army ... June

1777 to November, 1778 ... (Tarrytown, 1930, reprinted 1968), 72-73.

20. William Alexander to Washington, 23 December 1777, Washington Papers, series 4, roll

46.

21. December 1777 journal entries, Papers of John Peebles, Cunninghame of Thorntoun

Papers.

22. Willcox, Major André's Journal, 72-73.

23. December 1777 journal entries, Papers of John Peebles, Cunninghame of Thorntoun

Papers. William Alexander to Washington, 24 December 1777, Washington Papers, series

4, roll 46.

24. Willcox, Major André's Journal, 72-73.

25. William Alexander to Washington, 25 December 1777, Washington Papers, series 4, roll

46. A 26 March 1778 "General Return of Waggons with the Army" stated that Stirling's

Division had at its disposal 16 baggage wagons, 4 commissary wagons, 64 wagon horses

and 2 riding horses. (Note: The source of this return has been lost in my collection; citation

will be added when located. JUR)

26. December 1777 journal entries, Papers of John Peebles, Cunninghame of Thorntoun

Papers.

27. Willcox, Major André's Journal, 72-73.

28. William Alexander to Washington, 26 December 1777, Washington Papers, series 4, roll

46. Hugh F. Rankin, The North Carolina Continentals (Chapel Hill: Univ. of North Carolina

Press, 1971), 120.

29. December 1777 journal entries, Papers of John Peebles, Cunninghame of Thorntoun

Papers.

30. Willcox, Major André's Journal, 72-73.

31. December 1777 journal entries, Papers of John Peebles, Cunninghame of Thorntoun

Papers.

32. Willcox, Major André's Journal, 72-73.

33. Francis Barber to William Alexander, 28 December 1778, enclosed in Alexander to

Washington, 28 December 1778, Washington Papers, series 4, roll 46.

34. William Alexander to Washington, 28 December 1778, ibid., series 4, roll 46.

35. Scull, "Journals of Captain John Montresor," 480.

36. December 1777 journal entries, Papers of John Peebles, Cunninghame of Thorntoun

Papers.

37. Willcox, Major André's Journal, 72-73.

38. December 1777 journal entries, Papers of John Peebles, Cunninghame of Thorntoun

Papers.

39. Willcox, Major André's Journal, 72-73.

Excerpted from: "I Expect to be stationed in Jersey sometime...": An Account of the Services of the Second New Jersey Regiment:

Part I, December 1777 to June 1778 (1994, unpublished, copy held in the collections of the

David Library of the American Revolution, Washington Crossing, Pa.), contains seventeen

appendices covering various subjects including studies of the casualties incurred by the New

Jersey Brigade (1777-1779), the uniform clothing of the New Jersey Brigade (1776-1778), the

use of the nine-month draft in 1778, and names of all the officers and enlisted men of the

regiment.

Also included is a collection of pension narratives of the common soldiers of the New

Jersey Brigade: The March to Winter Quarters: 13 December to 25 December 1777

General Orders, 20 December to 25 December 1777

Countering the "depredations of the Enemy": 23 December to 28 December 1777

The Valley Forge Camp in the Waning Days of 1777

A. General Orders: 25 December to 31 December 1777

B. "I fancy we may ... Content ourselves in these Wigwams ...": 1 January to 19 March 1778

Valley Forge in the First Months of 1778

General Orders, 1 January to 19 March 1778

"I Expect to be stationed in Jersey sometime ...": 22 March to 1 April 1778

General Orders of the Army, 20 March to 28 March 1778

"The Enemy Giting intelligence of our movement ...": 4 April to 30 May 1778

General Orders of the Army, 8 April to 6 May 1778

Reinforcements and Alarms: The Actions of Brigadier General William Maxwell and

the Remainder of the Jersey Brigade, May 7 to May 24, 1778

The Institution of Nine-Month Enlistments from the New Jersey Militia, February to June 1778

Procuring Arms and Equipment for the Regiment, March to June 1778

Clothing the Men in the Spring of 1778

The Jersey Brigade is Reunited, May 28 to June 19, 1778

Appendices (partial list)

Company Strengths and Dispositions, December 1777 to May 1779

(including tables of casualties, deserters, etc.)

Monthly Regimental Strength as Taken from the Muster Rolls, December 1777 to May 1779

Listing of Field Officers, Company Officers, and Staff, December 1777 to May 1779

Company Organization, December 1777 to May 1779

A. Lineage of Companies, 1777 to 1779

B. Continuity of Company Command Through May 1779

Proportion of Men from 2nd N.J. of 1776 Who Reenlisted in 2nd N.J. of 1777

A Listing of Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of the 2nd N.J. of 1778