[hannayJ history of THE QUEEN'S RANGERS 129 



that he possessed such infonna,tion. The consequence was that in the 

 early morning of the 3rd October, while Washington with his whole 

 army was stealing silently upon the British, the latter were sleeping 

 unconscious of danger, and in fancied security. 



The British line of encampment at Germantown crossed the village 

 at right angles, near its centre, the right wing extending westward from 

 the town towards the Schuylkill. The main position was covered in 

 front by the German Chasseurs, some mounted and some on foot. The 

 British right extended eastward from the village, and was covered in 

 front by the Queen's Rangers. The American plan of attack, which 

 wias decided upon at a council of officers called by Washington, gave 

 every promise of success. It was arranged that the divisions of Sullivan 

 and Wayne, flanked by Conway's brigade, were to make a front attack, 

 entering Gennantown by way of Chestnut Hill, while General Armstrong 

 with the Pennsylvania Militia should get on the left and rear by the 

 Manatawny road. At the same time the division of Greene and Stephen, 

 flanked by McDougall's brigade, were to make a circuit by way of the 

 Lime Kiln road, and attack the British right, while the Maiyland and 

 Jersey Militia under Generals Small wood and Forman were to march 

 by the old York road and fall upon the rear of the British right. Lord 

 Sterling with the brigades of ISTash and Maxwell formed the American 

 reserve. 



After dark, Washington with his army moved silently from his camp 

 towards Germantown. He accompanied the column of Wayne and Sulli- 

 van in person. A little before sunrise, his army emerged from the woods 

 m front of the British pickets at Chestnut Hill. Shortly before that time 

 his approach had been discovered by the British patrols who gave the 

 alarm. Such troops as could be got together were hurriedly sent for- 

 ward to Mount Airy, a position about a mile north of the village of 

 Germantown. At seven o'clock, Sullivan's advanced party, drawn chiefly 

 from Conway's brigade, fell upon the British pickets and drove them 

 back to the main body which consisted of a part of the Fortieth Regi- 

 ment and some "light infantry. Sullivan's main body now moved to the 

 Tight through the fields, and forming in a lane leading towards the 

 Schuylkill attacked the British on the left flank in such overwhelming 

 numbers that they fell back towards Germantown. Colonel Musgrave 

 Ihus furiously attacked threw himself with five companies of the Fortieth 

 Regiment into a large stone house, owned by Judge Chew, and checked 

 the pursuit of the enemy. Siicli a tremendous fire of musketry was kept 

 up from this building that the further progress of the Americans in the 

 centre was stopped. Cannon were brought to blow in the house, but so 



Sec. II., 1908. 9. 



