298 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777. 



Upon the application of General Schuyler, of the Continental 

 army, an order was issued by the Board of War^ for the collec- 

 tion of 4000 blankets in Pennsylvania for the use of the Conti- 

 nental troops. These blankets were to be collected from the 

 inhabitants " in such quantities as is proportionate to the num- 

 ber they have in the family, and the stock of blankets they may 

 be possessed of ; for which blankets they shall be paid the full 

 value, according to an appraisement to be made of them." The 

 proportion to be furnished by Chester County was five hun- 

 dred.2 



Early in June, General Howe, commander of the British 

 forces at New York, showed a disposition to advance by land 

 across New Jersey, and to take possession of Philadelphia. On 

 the 14th of that month he actually made an advance by two 

 columns, which led General Washington to believe that this was 

 his real intention. This information being communicated to 

 Congress the same day, that body ordered, " That the 2nd Class 

 of the Militia of the County of Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks, 

 Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, k Northampton, be ordered 

 to march to the places to which the first class of the said counties 

 respectively are ordered, and that the third class be got in 

 readiness to march, and also that the 1st and second classes of 

 the City Militia, be ordered to march to Bristol, & the 3rd 

 Class hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest 

 notice." This order was promptly responded to by the Supreme 

 Executive Council of the State, who issued a circular letter to 

 the Lieutenants^ of the counties named, " to forward the first 

 Class of Militia immediately, and to hold the second class in 

 readiness to march at the shortest notice." Forty wagons were 

 also ordered to be sent from Chester County, thirty from Phila- 

 delphia, and thirty from Berks. 



But it so turned out that the marching of Howe was intended 

 to draw General Washington from the strong position he then 

 occupied, and in that event to give him battle, which he declined 

 to do as our troops were then posted. Washington wisely re- 

 fused to risk his army in an open field fight, and Howe would 

 not venture to cross the Delaware, leaving so large a force as 

 that commanded by Washington in his rear, so that Philadelphia 

 was again relieved from being attacked by the way of New 

 Jersey. The policy of the British general was understood in 



• The Roard of War consisted of nine persons, and was constituted by the Supreme 

 Executive Council, March 13, 1777. Col. Rec. xi. 181. 



"^ Penna. Packet. 



* There was a Lieutenant appointed for each county, who, with a number of Sub- 

 Lioutcnants, appear to have had the general management of military matters in 

 their respective counties. Colonel Robert Smith was the Lieutenant of Chester 

 County. 



