1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 309 



The loss on tlie side of the British was one hundred killed 

 and four hundred wounded ; among the former was a young man 

 named Percy, said to be a relative of the Duke of Nortiiuniber- 

 land.' The loss on the side of the Americans was nine hundred 

 killed and wounded. Among the wounded was the Marfjuis de 

 la Fayette. As but few Americans were killed or wounded in 

 the retreat, the ineciuality in the loss sustained has been at- 

 tributed to the inferiority of their arms; many of their muskets 

 being wholly unfit for service. 



Gen. Howe has received great applause for the plan of this 

 battle, which, but for one circumstance, was the very best that 

 could have been adojjted. The circuit taken by the division 

 under Cornwallis was too great. Had Gen. Washington re- 

 ceived early and correct information of the wide separation of 

 the two divisions of the British army, he would have crossetl the 

 Brandywine with his whole force, and made an attack on Knyp- 

 hausen with almost a certainty of success, and could have been 

 ready to meet the division under Cornwallis by the time it ar- 

 rived, or upon some future day as best suited his convenience." 

 To one acquainted with the distance and the ground traveled 

 over by the detached wing of the British army, the taking of 

 such a wide circuit, appears like a serious mistake on the part 

 of Lord Howe, and one that would have changed the fate of the 

 day, but for the extraordinary combination of circumstances that 

 kept Washington in ignorance or in doubt in respect to the ex- 

 tent and character of the movement, until it was too late to take 

 advantage of it. 



Upon the arrival of Gen. Washington at Chester, he ad- 

 dressed the following letter to Congress, by whose order it was 

 published : 



"Chester, September 11. 1777. Twelve 

 O'clock at Night." 

 "Sir: 



" I am sorry to inform you, that in this day's engagement, 

 we have been obliged to leave the enemy masters of the field. 

 Unfortunately the intelligence received of the Enemy's ad- 

 vancing up the Brandywine and crossing at a ford about six 

 miles above us, was uncertain and contradictory, notwithstanding 

 all my plans to get the best. This prevented my making a dis- 

 position adequate to the force with which tlie enemy attacked 

 us on our right ; in consequence of which, the troops first en- 

 gaged were obliged to retire, before they could be reinforced. — 



• Tradition converts this young man into a Lord Percy, but that is a mistake. 



See note to Joseph Townsends account of the battle of Brandywine, p. 29. 



2 Jefferis's Ford nt whii-h C'»riiwallis crossed the East Branch of the Brandy- 

 wine is six miles above Chadds' Ford. 



