THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, li.A. 157 
September 10th .—About 5 o’clock this afternoon moved forward 
and encamped. 
September 11th .—This morning about 6 o’clock the army began to 
move,, one part to the left under General Howe,, the other to the right 
under Knyphausen with intention to divide the enemy’s force and to 
cross the Brandywine Creek at two fords. About 8 or 9 o’clock this 
morning a very heavy fire began in front, which continued some time be¬ 
tween our advanced corps and the rebels, who were posted very strongly 
in the woods and on the hills facing the ford of the creek. The heavy 
artillery was ordered to make haste, and we galloped our horses some 
time, but were prevented from continuing the road by reason of trees 
being cut down and laid across. We turned into a wood and after a 
little difficulty got into a road that brought us to a very advantageous 
situation within shot of the rebel batteries on the other side of the 
creek. We immediately began to fire upon them from our 12 pound¬ 
ers and howitzers, and they returned it very smartly. This continued 
for some time, likewise a heavy fire of infantry and artillery in the woods to 
our right. Presently a total silence ensued. General Knyphausen ordered 
us to leave off. We began to be uneasy about General Howe, for a 
great force of the rebels marched from the hills and woods before us 
towards him, but about noon our doubts were eased, for we heard a 
firing on our left, at first gentle, but in a little very heavy indeed both 
of cannon and musketry. About 1 o’clock we saw the rebels running 
in multitudes out of the woods. We now began again with all our 
artillery to play on the flying scoundrels; the fire was returned by 
thorn from all their batteries. At this very time General Knyphausen 
ordered the troops under his command to pass the creek, which they 
did in the face of the enemy’s batteries and a heavy fire of musketry. We 
now saw our brave fellows under Howe push out of the wood after the 
rebels. We renew our fire from the artillery to scour the woods, they 
fly from all quarters, and our troops rush on their batteries and take 
them. By this time it has begun to be dark ; a few hours more day¬ 
light would have given us a more complete victory. As it is, their loss 
in killed and wounded is very considerable. We have suffered likewise, 
but not so much as might be expected from the strength of their situation 
and their numbers, our loss being about 400 killed and wounded. It is 
impossible to ascertain how many of the rebels are killed or wounded, 
but they are to be seen all over the fields and woods; they themselves 
say 1,000; no doubt it is more. I have heard by some deserters that 
their army with the militia amounted to upwards of 25,000 men, others 
say 20,000. We have taken 10 pieces of brass cannon, one iron, and a 
quantity of ammunition, and about 400 prisoners. We crossed the 
Brandywine Creek and lay on our arms all night. The deserters in¬ 
form us that the rebel army is struck with the utmost panic, flying 
along every road as fast as their legs can carry them, and that the 
morning after the defeat, 27 waggons of wounded were seen going 
towards Philadelphia, besides those which are to be seen in almost every 
house you come to. One officer and 16 men of our artillery were 
killed and wounded. 
