[draft] Campaign of 1777 Seper and Oct., Military Movements after Brandywine battle, at Germantown battle et seqr This fragment wh. Begins Sep. 16 77 and end October 16. 77 appears to be in the handwriting of General Knox William Knox - was with the main army at this time. The earlier leaves, which perhaps contained an acct of the battle at Brandywine, if not He was in the battle at Germantown and behaved with Spirit. The first entry seems to be on 16 Sepr of the enemy's in tending to out flank us in right and left Determined at once to frustrate their design by moving his whole army to the right 5 miles, which brought us to the Yellow Spring; never was seen a more horrid time for troops to march in. It rained all day with as much violence as every (even?) it did since the flood of Noah - scarcely a dry cartridge in the whole army. If attacked by the enemy an entire defeat must have been the consequence. 17th We moved this morning from the [2] yellow spring, over French creek and halted 5 or 6 miles the other side 18 One o'clock the morning the army were ordered to march, and we reached Reading furnace, where we encamped about 12 o'clock. 19th Intelligence recd of the enemy's pushing for Philadelphia, the army crossed the Schylkill at - (sic) ford by the time the army had crossed, night came on but his Excelsy having information of the enemy's being at [Flatsand] ford on Schuylkill and appeared as if intending to cross, thought it necessary for the army to march all night, but hearing the enemy had crossed about 2 o'clock in the morning he ordered a halt until he could get certain intelligence - and when having authentic accounts of their not having crossed [3] the army renewed the march and [illegible] the other side of Flatsand ford, where the enemy were, and nearly in sight 21 The ground (Sunday) on which we are being Not so advantageously situated as some at a distance we are to take post there immediately. We arrived about dusk to our new - ground-- We had not been many minutes upon our new ground when the army was ordered to march.We re-forded the Perkeomin and Skipback and reacht the ground on which we were to encamp about 3 o'clock in the morning. In passing by a Collo Patter's off. Of the Pennsylvania Regt at the bridge took a nap of half an hour or So. 22d We were ordered to be in readiness to march at 10 o'clock. We accordingly marched about 6 miles from our last encampment - halted about sunset. Accounts are recvd of Genl Maine's [4] being attacked on the 20th at night by surprize. He was detached by way of attacking the enemy's rear. Genl Smalwood arrived and joind Genl Waine. 23d This morning the enemy crossd at the Flatland ford with the pact of their army, and proceeding on the other (side) on their way to Philadelphia 24th We are at Hanover Township Philadelphia County. Nothing of consequence took place in Camp to day. 25 Contd at Hanover township. Cookd 2 days provision the British we hear they entered Philadelphia to the amot of about 1500 under Ld. Cornwallis = the remainder are about Germantown, Frankfort and their environs. [5] 26th This morning the army marched crossed the Perkeomin, and encamped near mill, just on the creek. Genl McDougal joind the Grand Army yesterday. 27th Genl Knox, Green, McDougal having about 50 horse under count Polaski went this day to reconnoiter a new encampment. Some very favorable accounts from General Gates' army. 28th Favorable accounts from the Northward are that Genl Burgoyne attacked the left of Genl Gates army under General Arnold, and was repulsed [illegible] 5 repeated attacks and himself wounded that they lines were in our possession, and when the express came away Ticonderoga was summond 290 prisoners besides a great number of batteaux, armd boats and with then of our prisoners taken at (Ticonderoga ? ) 29th The army marched this day from the encampment [6] at mill about 4 miles 30th [There are 3 lines here which seem intended to the struck out - a line drawn through them] 30th Very cold nights, having no blankets, His Excellency accompanied by a great number (of) General Officers rode out reconnoiting the ground about our present and intended encampm(ent). No particular account from the enemy. Oct. 1 Orders were issued to day for the march of the army tomorrow from the right. 2d marched this day from the 4 mile encampment to Worcester, which situation is rather more eligible than what (?) we have had for some (days ?) past 3d and 4th This evening a(bout?) 6 o'clock the whole army marched from this encampment towards the enemy at Germantown [7] in 4 Columns; after having marched all night we arrived at the advance Picket of their (first?) line in [text loss] about sunrise; the attacking of which began the action of this memorable day. The enemy soon reinforced their picket to 4 or 5 men with 2 field pieces. The action soon became general. The Americans pushd on with great ardor and regularity, and the enemy retreated with great disorder and precipitation for a mile or two, when a heavy fog which had arisen early in the morning became so thick that one part of our army would take other parts for the enemy, and these for some of us, which cau(sed?) such confusion that we were under the necessity of retreating in turn and wh(ich) we did bringing of (off) all our cannon, and every thing else, ecept an empty ammunition waggon. The number killed and wounded are not ascertained. General Na(sh) of the north [8] carolinian was mortally wounded by a cannonball's taking off his thigh. General Agneus Grant and Kniphausen are reported to be killd with the Coll Abercrombie, Walco and Mr Depersten, aide de camp to Genl Kniphausen. Our army for the better as (sembling?) its scattered retreated as far as the other si(de of ?) the Perkeonim 5th This day we were busy in collecting to the Perkeonim. 6 This afternoon we were alarmed by the militia's firing platoons by way of clearing their guns contrary to the time limited in general order. 7th Nothing of consequence took place in camp today 8th This morning we marched from our encampment near Perkeomin to a pla(ce) call'd Lower Sulford or Skipl (Skippack) creek. A very heavy cannonade heard this night, supposd, to be down on the river. 9th Continued at Lower Sulford on the Creek. [9] 10 This morning was buried with the honours of war John White Esqr aid de camp to General Sullivan, mortally wounded in the action of the 4th. He was buried in the same ground with General Nash. It is worth of remark that this gentleman (a) native of Hibernia left a pregnant wife with a genteel fortune in England to encounter all the hardships of [ravaging war] - such was his exalted idea of defending the religious and civil rights of mankind. General Sullivan lost in this action another of his Aids de Camp - Major Shelbourne. At 12 o'clock was executed for desertion a soldier who deserted from Colo Hartly's Regt. and was taken after having enlisted in the British army at By the many accounts from the British army their loss must have been much more than was at first supposd. 11th A court of inquiry sat to day at our Quarters to inquire into the Conduct of Major General Sullivan in the affair of Staten Island. [10] A very heavy cannonade heard to day and yesterday, supposd to be on the fort at Red bank. 12th Sunday.. Major General Sullivan is a acquitted of the charge alleged (?) again(st) him by Major Tayl ( ) in his expedition to Staten Island. This arrivd a confirmation of the reports concerning the forts up the North River. A letter from General Parsons mentioned that on Monday the 6th inst. Fort Montgomery was taken by storm; that the Fort made as brave a resistance as ever was heard and read of in history. Governor and General Clinton Colls Lamb and [Dubois] made their escape after they were in possession of the Fort. - The 2 frigates which lay in the North River were burnt by us, as wind and tide were against their being taken higher up (the?) river. General Putnam, with his army have marchd to Fishkill. 13th We hear the enemy are throwing up lines fro the Security of their Camp at Germantown, Frankfort and Philadelphia. [11] 14th By a letter from Col. Trumbull, Paymaster Genl. Northern Department that on the 7th Genl Gates gained an advantage over Genl Burgoyne amounting to a defeat, took prisoners 9 pieces Brass ordnance and was pursuing Burgoyne's army when the accounts came away. Genl Fazer was killd in the engagement, Sr Francis Carr Clark taken with many officers of distinction. We had Generals Lincoln and Arn(old?) wounded in the left leg ? except which our loss was trifling - and upon the most rational prin(ciples) we may expect to he(ar) of Genl. Burgoyne and his army falling into our hands. 15th A discharge of at the Park consequence victory under General Gates. Orders for marching tomorrow morning 16th This morning the army began the march at 7 o'clock.