THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 159 
September 20th .—The army received orders to march this morning, 
hut these were countermanded on account of the height of the Schuyl¬ 
kill from the late rain. This morning about 12 o’clock a strong de¬ 
tachment from our army, under the command of General Grey, sur¬ 
prised a body of 1,500 or 2,000 rebels who were intending to attack 
our rear on the march. They were commanded by a General Wane. 
Between 500 and 600 were put to death on the spot without firing a 
single shot. The bayonet did the business completely. 160 prisoners 
were taken. General Grey returned about 1 o’clock in the morning 
to his camp having lost only one Captain killed and 12 men killed and 
wounded. 
September 21st. —The army marched very quietly over a branch of 
the Schuylkill near the Forge and store houses called Valley Forge. 
We lay all night. Some skirmishing in front. 
September 22nd. —This afternoon two detachments passed the Schuyl¬ 
kill, the one above, the other below the headquarters at Fat Land 
ford. They met with hardly any opposition; some artillery was 
ordered to cover their going over. At six o’clock this afternoon the 
heavy brigade of artillery was ordered to march towards a ford on the 
Schuylkill called (blank) ; the night was very dark. We recrossed 
the little branch of the Schuylkill at the Forge with great difficulty 
and lay on our arms till about one o’clock in the morning, 'fine moon¬ 
light, when we again set forward, reaching the banks of the river just 
as the day began to dawn. 
September 23rd. —We passed with the cannon very well, and pro¬ 
ceeded to a rising ground where we halted for some time, then again 
proceeded to Norrington, where we halted for the night. The river at 
the ford is about three feet deep, very rapid, and about 80 to 100 
yards wide. If the rebels had the least spirit or resolution they might 
have defended this pass; not that they would have prevented our get¬ 
ting over, but they might have killed us a number of men. I believe 
there is not an army in the universe better disposed or in better order 
to fight than this one. The rebels fly before us; they run whenever 
we advance. They say we are mad or drunk or we would never dash 
in among them as we do. Our light infantry are the finest set of fel¬ 
lows in the world for this mode of fighting.’ 
The country now begins to open out the nearer we get to the 
metropolis, and there is some variety in the prospect. Cultivation is 
more perceptible. Hitherto we have seen scarce anything but a 
continuation of wood, with now and then a small farm house and a 
field of Indian corn. The army, however, has been well supplied with 
fresh meat and flour, and abundance of forage for the horses. Very 
few of the inhabitants have remained in their houses, those who have 
alone saving their effects. It is otherwise with the deserted houses. 
September 24th. —We left Norrington and marched to Germantown 
without opposition. The Allens met their father and families at this 
place, all well. We encamped here; a very rainy disagreeable night. 
September 25th. —This morning orders were given for six 12 pound¬ 
ers and four howitzers, the British and Hessian grenadiers, and two 
