Washington's Immortals

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by Patrick K. O'Donnell


  117 “reeled in the saddle.” Fischer, Washington’s Crossing, 246–48.

  117 “March on, my brave fellows, after me!” The Revolutionary Services of John Greenwood of Boston and New York, 1775–1783 (New York: De Vinne Press, 1922), 83.

  117 “Sir, they have . . . and German.” William M. Dwyer, The Day Is Ours! An Inside View of the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, November 1776–January 1777 (New York: Viking, 1983), 259.

  117 “[Prisoners] should have . . . unfortunate brethen.” Chernow, Washington: A Life, 282.

  117 “policy of humanity.” Charles Francis Adams, ed., Familiar Letters of John Adams and His Wife Abigail Adams (New York: Hurd and Houghton and Cambridge: Riverside Press, 1876), 247.

  117 Note on treatment of prisoners: Fighting in the South or Southern Department was more violent and involved many clashes between Loyalist and Whig partisan units that did not view quarter in a uniform manor. But Continentals treated prisoners properly in both the North and the South.

  117–18 “With [Hessian] brass . . . or Defense.” Joseph Reed, “General Joseph Reed’s Narrative of the Movements of the American Army in the Neighborhood of Trenton in the Winter of 1776–77,” Pennsylviania Magazine of History and Biography, December 1, 1884, 391–92.

  118 “as many muskets . . . and swords.” George Washington to John Hancock, December 27, 1776 Founders online: NARA.

  118 “very trifling indeed . . . privates wounded.” Dwyer, The Day Is Ours! 271.

  118–19 “My brave fellows . . . other circumstances.” Sergeant R—, “The Battle of Princeton,” Wellsborough (Pennsylvania), Phoenix, March 24, 1832, quoted in Fischer, Washington’s Crossing, 272–73.

  119 “most affectionate manner.” Ibid.

  119 “Defend the bridge . . . man, excellency.” Custis, Lee, and Lossing, Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington, 413.

  119–20 “This was the . . . and them.” Robert Beale, “Revolutionary Experiences of Major Robert Beale,” Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine 6 (1956): 500–6.

  120 “If there ever . . . valorous sons.” James Wilkinson, Memoirs of My Own Times (Philadelphia: Abraham Small, 1816; reprint, 1923), 1:138.

  120 “On one hour . . . conquered rebels!” Edwin Martin Stone, The Life and Recollections of John Howland (Providence, RI: George H. Whitney, 1857), 74.

  120 “Well, boys, you . . . leg them.” Harry M. Ward, Charles Scott and the Spirit of ’76 (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988), 27.

  121 “The noble horse . . . and station.” Stone, Life and Recollections, 74.

  121 “The enemy came . . . soon defeated.” Ward, Delaware Continentals, 142.

  122 “They continued to . . . and fled.” Dwyer, The Day Is Ours! 323.

  122 “Officers reformed the . . . the bridge.” Ibid.

  122 “It was then . . . one man.” Ibid.

  122 “They came on . . . cannot conceive.” Ibid.

  122 “The bridge looked . . . red coats.” White, Narrative, 74–79.

  122 “Their dead bodies . . . just passed.” Pension application of William Hutchinson, NARA.

  122 “We’ve got the . . . the morning.” Benton Rain Patterson, Washington and Cornwallis (Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing, 2004), 95.

  Chapter 16: Princeton

  126 “Orders were given . . . lightly planted.” Trevelyan, The American Revolution, pt. 2, 2:144.

  126 “The morning was . . . every object.” Wilkinson, Memoirs of My Own Times, 141.

  126–27 “We drew up . . . Brigade lay.” H. C. Wylly, ed., 1913 Regimental Annual, The Sherwood Foresters (London, 1913), 18, quoted in Fischer, Washington’s Crossing, 329.

  127 Mawhood’s troop numbers from Fischer, Washington’s Crossing, 330.

  127 “remaining fragment.” Samuel Stelle Smith, The Battle of Trenton/The Battle of Princeton: Two Studies (Monmouth Beach, NJ: Westholme Publishing, 2009), 20.

  127 “rushed without reconnoitering . . . of cannon.” Ibid.

  127 “too far off.” Ibid., 24.

  127 “so that every . . . fire incessantly.” Ibid.

  127 “threw the whole in confusion.” Ibid.

  128 “expostulated to no purpose.” Ibid.

  128 “Parade with us . . . them directly.” Douglas Southall Freeman, George Washington: A Biography, 7 vols. (New York: Scribner, 1948–1957).

  128 “O my Susan! . . . of myself.” James Read, letter, 1777, in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 16:465–66.

  128 “They fly, the day is our own.” “An Account of the Battle of Princeton. From the Pennsylvania Evening Post, Jan. 16, 1777, Extract of a letter from an Officer of Distinction in General Washington’s Army, Jan. 5, 1777,” in Pennsylvania Magazine of History 8, no. 3 (October 1884):310–12.

  128 “It is a fine fox chase, my boys!” Wilkinson, Memoirs of My Own Times, 1:145.

  129 “all the blood . . . the surface.” Smith, The Battle of Trenton/The Battle of Prince­ton, 27.

  129 “Gen’l Washington . . . and people.” Pension application of Jesse Ford, NARA.

  129 “The achievements of . . . military achievements.” North Callahan, Henry Knox: General Washington’s General (New York: Rinehart, 1958), 98.

  130 “Thus had times . . . our defense.” Ewald, Diary of the American War, 44–45 for entry of December 30–31, 1776.

  130 “a church, a tavern, . . . better sort.” Ward, The War of the Revolution, 319.

  130–31 “The Tories in . . . the Whiggs.” In Maryland Archives Online.

  131 “an armed force, . . . their country.” Theodore Corbett, Revolutionary Chestertown: Loyalists and Rebels on Maryland’s Eastern Shore (Charleston, SC: History Press, 2014), 113.

  131 “their ravaging and . . . of Gold.” New, Maryland Loyalists in the American Revolution, 40.

  132 “but, undismayed, [she] . . . the rebel.” Ibid., 50.

  132 “a suit of clothes yearly.” “Instructions to Recruiting Officers,” October 23, 1776,” Peter Force’s American Archives, 5th series, 2:1204.

  132 Information on difficulty in recruiting troops from Charles H. Lesser, ed., Sinews of Independence: Monthly Strength Reports of the Continenetal Army (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1976), 54.

  133 “the whole Army, . . . the smallpox.” Pension application of John Boudy (Bondy, Bodray), NARA.

  133 “fired by the love of liberty.” Richard Pindell, “A Militant Surgeon of the Revolution: Some Letters of Richard Pindell, M.D.,” Maryland Historical Magazine Vols. 17–18 (MHS: Baltimore, 1922), 309–23

  133 “repeatedly rejected the . . . for life.” Ibid.

  134 Information on Revolutionary-era medicine from Elizabeth Rorke, “Surgeons and Butchers,” Brandywine Battlefield Historic Site, http://www.ushistory.org/brandywine/special/art06.htm.

  134 “Our hospital, or . . . wretched clothing.” Anthony Wayne to Gates, December 1, 1776, Peter Force’s American Archives, 5th series, 3:1032.

  135 Information on troop strength from Ward, Delaware Continentals, 162.

  136 “The whole of . . . then retreated.” Joseph Nourse, February 29, 1777, Peter Force’s American Archives, 5th series, 3:1031.

  136 Information on troop strength from Fischer, Washington’s Crossing, 359.

  137 “whose head was . . . of him.” Papers of Captain William Beatty, MHS.

  137 “mostly Barefoot though . . . us Daily.” John Sullivan to George Washington, letter, August 7, 1777, Sullivan Papers, Rhode Island Historical Society, 1:423–27.

  137 “The court passed . . . the road.” William Beatty, Journal, MHS.

  138 “only those who . . . a march.” From Ward, Delaware Continentals, 179, citing Sullivan Papers, 1:437.

  138 “My line of . . . then run.” Anderson, Personal Recollections.


  138–39 “Our people [were] . . . were ineffectual.” Ward, Delaware Continentals, 179.

  139 “lawful plunder.” Anderson, Personal Recollections.

  139 “Run, run, . . . safe over.” AIbid.

  139–40 “They came down . . . the Barn.” Spelling errors have been corrected from the original. Normally, the author attempts to preserve the original language, including the spelling errors, but in this case, there were so many errors that the text became difficult to read. Francis B. Culver, “General Sullivan’s Descent upon the British on Staten Island—The Escape of William Wilmot,” Maryland Historical Magazine 6, no. 2 (June 1911).

  Chapter 17: Brandywine

  141 “[No] dancing along . . . the case.” George Washington, General Orders, August 23, 1777, Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, 9:127.

  141 “with a lively smart step.” Chernow, Washington: A Life.

  141–42 “We have such . . . the enemy.” Ibid.

  142 “I confess the . . . our comprehension.” Ibid.

  142 “must mean to . . . strange one.” Ibid.

  142 “they are utterly . . . strenuous exertions.” Ibid.

  144 “As the Approach . . . respective camps.” William Beatty, Journal, MHS.

  144 “Marsch, schräg nach rechts! . . . Angriff! (Charge!)” McGuire, The Philadelphia Campaign: Brandywine and the Fall of Philadelphia (Mechaniecsburg, PA: Stockpole Books, 2006), 216.

  145 “The balls [were] . . . the grapeshot.” Robert Middlekauff, The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763–1789, rev. ed. (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 394.

  145 “Colonel [Nathaniel] Ramsay . . . the Yagars.” Samuel Smith Papers, Columbia University Library.

  145 “much stained with blood.” Sheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats, 270.

  146 “The general was . . . fallen in.” Joseph Townsend, “Some Account of the Adventures of One Day—The Memorable September 11th, 1777,” Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

  146 “I neither knew . . . with them.” Stephenson, Patriot Battles, 274.

  146 “rode up to Consult the other General officers.” Ibid.

  147 “By the time . . . of battle.” John Stone to William Paca, letter, September 23, 1777, in Scharf, Chronicles of Baltimore, 166–68.

  148 “Lord Cornwallis’s men . . . good order.” McGuire, The Philadelphia Campaign: Brandywine and the Fall of Philadelphia, 222.

  148 “received a wound . . . Winter following.” Pension application of John Boudy (Bondy, Bodray), NARA.

  148 “The firing, while . . . war began.” Joseph Clark, Diary, New Jersey Historical Society, 256.

  148 “During the fight . . . our discomfiture.” Pension application of Henry Wells (Wales), NARA.

  148 “The American fire . . . wings collapsed.” McGuire, The Philadelphia Campaign: Brandywine and the Fall of Philadelphia, 223.

  148 “I rallied a . . . Bristled Bayonetts.” Pindell, “Militant Surgeon,” 308–20.

  148–49 “We began to . . . their batteries.” Francis Downman, The Services of Lieut.-Colonel Francis Downman, R.A. in France, North America, and the West Indies between the Years 1758 and 1784, Colonel F. A. Whinyates, ed. (Woolwich, UK: Royal Artillery Institution, 1898), 33.

  149 “We renew our . . .all quarters.” Ibid.

  149 “Never was a . . . and wounded.” Scharf, Chronicles of Baltimore, 167.

  149 “well over six . . . great strength.” William L. Calderhead, “Thomas Carney: Unsung Soldier of the American Revolution,” Maryland Historical Magazine 84, no. 4 (Winter 1989):321.

  149 “when said frigate . . . at Brandywine.” Pension application of Michael Ellis, NARA.

  149 “wounded in the hand and in the face.” Pension application of Jacob Allen, NARA.

  149–50 “We were led . . . this day.” Pension application of Henry Wells (Wales), NARA.

  150 “We retreated about . . . great execution.” Scharf, History of Maryland, 321.

  150 “discovered a flanking . . . near sunset.” Samuel Smith Papers, Columbia University Library.

  150 “assured him he . . . forced me!” J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1881), 80.

  Chapter 18: Wayne’s Affair

  151 “Oh my Daddy’s killed, my dear Daddy’s killed!” Persifor Frazer, General Persifor Frazer: A Memoir Compiled Principally from His Own Papers by His Great-Grandson (Philadelphia, 1907), 155–56.

  151 “I fought with . . . to me.” Ward, Delaware Continentals, 537.

  152 “Every one Rejoiced . . . few hours.” Journal and Order Book of Captain Robert Kirkwood of the Delaware Regiment of the Continental Line, Delaware Historical Society, 167–70.

  152 “The order of . . . immediately arranged.” Futhey and Cope, History of Chester County, 83.

  152 “An extraordinary thunderstorm . . . the world.” Ewald, Diary of the American War, 89.

  153 “The inferiority of . . . this occasion.” Howard to Bentalou, March 1826, Bayard Papers, MHS.

  153 “Hard rain that . . . the arms.” Papers of Captain William Beatty, MHS.

  153 “cutting off the . . . of Ambuscades.” Washington to Brigadier Gneral Anthony Wayne, September 18, 1777, Washington Papers, Library of Congress; Fitzpatrick, The Writings of George Washington: 235–36.

  153 “I believe a . . . human gore!” Chernow, Washington: A Life, 361.

  153 “surprise these gentlemen . . . a frolic.” Nahum Parker Journal, September 20, 1777, Parker Family Papers, NARA.

  154 “Turn out my . . . the Smoak.” Martin Hunter, The Journal of Gen. Sir Martin Hunter, James Hunter, Anne Hunter, and Elizabeth Bell eds. (Edinburgh: Edinburg Press, 1894), 29–30.

  154 “Dash, Light Infantry!” “HUZZAH!” Ibid.

  154 “One of our . . . of since.” Smallwood to Johnson, September 23, 1777, MHS, MSS 1875.

  154 “The Rear taking . . . their friends.” Ibid.

  154 “My Horse received . . . their Hands.” Mordecai Gist to John Smith, September 23, 1777, Emmet Collection, Manuscripts and Archives Division, New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation, no. 6610.

  155 “The fire of . . . from foe.” Hamilton B. Tompkins, “Contemporary Account of the Battle of Germantown,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 11, no. 3 (October 1887):330–31.

  156–57 “encampment of the British . . . and retreated.” “Col. John Eager Howard’s Account of the Battle of Germantown,” Maryland Historical Magazine 4, no. 4 (December 1909):314.

  157 “survived the hottest . . . little red.” Papers of Captain William Beatty, MHS.

  157 “engaged from behind . . . the field.” “Col. John Eager Howard’s Account of the Battle of Germantown,” 315.

  158 “the rebels pressed . . . the door.” “Battle of German Town from a British Account,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 11, no. 1 (April 1887):113.

  158 “was wounded at . . . back bone.” Pension application of James Keelan (Keland), NARA.

  158 “Hurrah to the King! Hurrah to the English.” McGuire, The Philadelphia Campaign: Germantown and the Roads to Valley Forge (Mechanicsburg, PA: Stokpole Books, 2007).

  158-59 “The Bravest [Americans] . . . great Slaughter.” Jeremiah Greenman, Diary of a Common Soldier in the American Revolution, Robert C. Bray and Paul E. Bushnell, eds. (DeKalb: Northen Illinois University Press, 1978), 82.

  159 “Seventy-five dead Americans . . . spattered around.” Chernow, Washington: A Life.

  159 Numbers of Loyalist troops provided by author and historian Don N. Hagist.

  159 “We drove the . . . proper place.” Asher Holmes to Sallie, letter, October 6, 1777, in George Crawford Beekman, Early Dutch Settlers of Momnouth County, New Jersey (Freehold, NJ: Moreau Bros
., 1901), 118.

  159–60 “A thick foggy . . . their line.” Mordecai Gist Papers, MHS.

  160 “A few Minutes . . . several redoubts.” Ibid.

  160 “found that the . . . to Maryland.” Ibid.

  160 “We are still . . . our advantage.” James Cox to Mary Cox, letter, October 3, 1777, James Cox Papers, MHS.

  160 “Your loving husband. . . hour afterwards.” George Welsh to Mary Cox, letter, October 7, 1777, in Scharf, Chronicles of Baltimore, 165–66.

  160 “brave and valuable officer.” Ibid., 166.

  161 “The Weakness of . . . the Ground.” Mordecai Gist Papers, MHS.

  161 “Upon our troops . . . the pursuit,” “Battle of German Town from a British Account,” 114.

  161 “The enemy sallied . . . checked them.” “Col. John Eager Howard’s Account of the Battle of Germantown,” Maryland Historical Magazine 4, no. 4 (December 1909):314.

  161 “When Cornwallis Coming . . . to retreat.” William Beatty, Journal, MHS, 9.

  161 “They appeared to . . . from us.” Thomas Paine to Benjamin Franklin, letter, May 16, 1778, The Writings of Thomas Paine (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1906).

  162 “The British Grenadiers . . . move off.” Officer B [Wetherall], British Journal, 1776–1778, Feinstone Collection, in McGuire, The Philadelphia Campaign: Germantown, 48.

  162 “It was a . . . for us.” Chernow, Washington: A Life, 311.

  162 “nothing struck him so much.” Ibid.

  Chapter 19: Mud Island

  164 “to defend [Fort Mifflin] to their last extremity.” Martin, Private Yankee Doodle, 90–91.

  164 “The keeping of . . . persevering defense.” Washington to Smith, letter, September 23, 1777, Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Volume 12; Samuel Smith Papers, Columbia University Library.

  164 “nothing more than . . . hewn stone.” Martin, Private Yankee Doodle, 49.

  164 “The island, because . . . by assault.” Lt. Col. Von Cochenhausen to Major General von Jungkenn, letter, November 28, 1777, in “The Philadelphia Campaign, 1777–1778, Letters and Reports from the von Jungkenn Papers,” Journal of the Johannes Schwalm Historical Association 6, no. 2 (1998):18.

 

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