1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 305 



utive Council for a sufficii'nt number of teams, for the removal 

 of all baggage except blankets and a few small clothes. These 

 teams were '' to be placed in the rear of the divisions, and im- 

 mediately on an alarm, the tents and small packs left with the 

 men, were to be sent over Brandywine.'"' 



Up to the 8th of September, the opinion wa« entertained by 

 Gen. Armstrong that the Britit^h would probably re-embark on 

 the Delaware, cross over, and land at some convenient point on 

 the Jersey shore, march up to the chevaux-de-frize, accom|)anied 

 by the vessels of force, which he expected would bombard Phila- 

 delphia.- On the very day that Gen. Armstrong communicated 

 this opinion to the Council, a movement of the enemy proved 

 that it was not well founded. Gen. Washington had strengthened 

 the position he then occupied, and, regarding it as probable that 

 the fate of Philadelphia would be there decided, he had resorted 

 to every means in his power to encourage his troops and stimu- 

 late them to the greatest exertions. But the movements of the 

 enemy indicated a design to turn the right of the American 

 army, and to cut off all communication with Philadelphia. 

 Washington decided at once to change his ground, and that 

 night crossed the Brandywine, and took a position behind that 

 stream at Chadds' Ford. General Maxwell was posted west of 

 the ford on the road, and Gen. Armstrong was assigned a posi- 

 tion on the east side of the Brandywine, about two miles below, 

 which enabled him to guard two fords, now known as Pyle's Ford 

 and Corner Ford. In order to fortify the position at Chadds' 

 Ford, a breast-work was hastily thrown up on the bluff bordering 

 on the flat ground a little north of the main road. Part of the 

 main army was stationed above the ford to guard other passes. 



This division of the American army has been estimated, nu- 

 merically, at 15,000, including the Pennsylvania Militia, com- 

 manded by Gen. Armstrong. Chief Justice Marshall, who was 

 present at the battle of Brandywine, estimates the effective force 

 of the Americans at 11,000, including the Militia, and assigns 

 his reasons why there should be such a large number of men un- 

 fit for military duty.' Thus posted, and with this small body of 

 effectives, Washington patiently awaited the approach of the 

 greatly superior force of the enemy. 



On the evening of the 9th, Howe marched in two columns 

 which united early next morning at Kennet Square ; after which 

 he advanced parties on the roads leading to Lancaster, to Chadds' 

 Ford, and to Wilmington. 



The account of the noted Battle of Brandywine, which hap- 

 pened on the next day, will be mainly that given by Chief Jus- 



1 Penna. Archives, v. 596. ^ lb. 598. 



3 Marshall's Life of Washington, i. 154. 



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