THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 1G3 
channel by the rebels. It is reported that Washington is near the 
town with his whole army, and by intercepted letters we learn he is 
collecting all his force, with an intention to make an attack on our camp 
at Germantown. 
October 4th , 1177. —In the morning during our march I heard a great 
deal of firing of cannon near Germantown. I was informed that 
General Washington with his whole army of 25,000 men had taken 
advantage of a thick fog, and the supposed absence of a number of our 
troops, to make an attack upon our advanced body, the 2nd battalion of 
light troops. They sustained the enemy’s whole force for a considerable 
time till others came to their assistance. The fire then became pretty 
general and very warm, and continued so for some time. At length 
the rebels gave way in all quarters in the utmost confusion, leaving 
behind them a great number of slain and prisoners, fi ve of their gene¬ 
rals, 500 slain, buried by us, besides wounded carried off and 500 
prisoners. Our loss is not very considerable. General Agnew and 
Colonel Bird are killed; Colonel Walcot, 5th regiment, is dangerously 
wounded, and about 350 officers and men killed and wounded, of these 60 
killed, and between 300 and 400 wounded. The light 12 pounders and 
fieldpieces had a share in the day’s action, and had several men wounded. 
Traille 1 , Stewart 2 and Huddlestone 3 were with the light 12 pounders. 
During the engagement in Germantown, Colonel Musgrave had the 
good fortune to throw his regiment, the 40th, into a large house, 4 from 
which he did very great execution, notwithstanding the rebels had four 
pieces of cannon playing upon the house with round and grape shot, 
making it like a riddle, and he lost but very few men. The rebel 
army was pursued by some of our troops a good way beyond Chestnut 
Hill, but they had taken the precaution of having a great number of 
horses to their guns, by which means they escaped. 
October 6th. — The rebels have got about 40 vessels near the chevaux- 
de-frise and have been firing all the afternoon, and till 10 o’clock at 
night, at the Roebuck and other of our ships that are near them. We 
learn to-day that Lord Howe is arrived in the Delaware. 
October 7th. —The 8 inch howitzer and mortars are preparing for 
service; we suppose, to fire on the rebel fleet. 
October 8th. —This afternoon at 4 o’clock Captain Standish marched 
with the 8 inch howitzer, 8 inch mortars, and two medium 12 pounders, 
escorted by some grenadiers and 10th regiment, down to the ferry 
near the entrance of the Schuylkill, to destroy the rebel shipping, 
to endeavour to land on Province Island, 5 and to silence their forts on 
Mud Island. About 10 o’clock this night we heard a great firing 
from the rebel fleet, which continued a good while. They were firing 
at our battery of two 12 pounders on the point of the Schuylkill. 
1 Kane’s List, No. 221. Captain Peter Traille. 
2 Kane’s List, No. 247. Captain John Stewart. 
3 Kane’s List, No. 277. Captain W, O. Huddlestone. 
4 Chew’s House. 
5 Formed by the junction of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers about three miles below Phila¬ 
delphia. 
