Battle of Paoli

Essential Facts

• Also Known As: Battle of Paoli Tavern, Paoli Massacre.
• Date: September 20–21, 1777.
• Location: Near Paoli Tavern, Pennsylvania.
• Participants: United States of America and Great Britain.
• Key American Leaders: Anthony Wayne, William Smallwood, George Washington.
• Key British Leaders: Charles Grey, William Howe.
• Who Won: Britain won the Battle of Paoli.
• Part of: Philadelphia Campaign, American Revolutionary War.
• Significance: The Battle of Paoli is important to American History because it was a key part of the Philadelphia Campaign. It also inspired American troops to retaliate against the British with the rallying cry, “Remember Paoli!”

Key Moments

This list indicates the approximate times at which key moments occurred during the Battle of Paoli.

• September 20, 8:00 p.m. — A local man warned Wayne that the British were planning to attack. Wayne increased the number of guards around his camp.
• 10:00 p.m. — British forces started marching toward Wayne’s camp, while American reinforcements were approaching from the west.
• 11:00 p.m. — American pickets engaged the British, north of the camp. A second British column started its march toward Wayne’s camp.
• September 21, 12:00 a.m. — The first British column moved up the hill, moving south, toward Wayne’s camp, pushing pickets back in front of them as they advanced.
• 12:15 a.m. — Two columns of British troops attacked Americans on the east side of the camp, pushing the Americans to the west side. The American retreat was slowed by a fence, which allowed the British to nearly surround the entire brigade.
• 12:30 a.m. — The second wave of British troops moved into Wayne’s camp.
• 12:45 a.m. — The third wave of British troops entered Wayne’s camp. They killed and wounded Americans and set fire to the shelters and tents.
• 1:00–2:00 a.m. — British forces pushed the Americans westward out of the camp.
• 2:00–3:00 a.m. — The British pursuit ended, and they returned to their camps.

History

The Philadelphia Campaign

• General William Howe carried out the Philadelphia Campaign to capture Philadelphia, the nation’s capital, and to destroy General George Washington’s Army.
• Howe used the British Navy to move his army from New York City to the head of the Elk River in Delaware. To make his way to Philadelphia, he needed to cross Brandywine Creek and the Schuylkill River.
• After a brief engagement at the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge, Washington placed his army along the banks of Brandywine Creek, southwest of Philadelphia.
• On September 11, Howe attacked Washington in the Battle of Brandywine, the largest, longest, one-day battle of the war. Washington was forced to withdraw, but his men fought hard, and the army remained intact, ready to fight again.
• Having crossed Brandywine Creek, the next geographic obstacle in Howe’s path was the Schuylkill River.
• Over the next five days, Washington moved his army to block Swede’s Ford, the most viable place for Howe to cross the river.
• The two armies started to do battle on September 16, 1777, but a severe thunderstorm brought the “Battle of the Clouds” to an abrupt end. 
• Washington withdrew to Yellow Springs, setting a series of events in motion that led to the Battle of Paoli.

The Storehouse at Valley Forge

While the Battle of the Clouds was taking place, the owner of Valley Forge, Colonel William Dewees, was taking inventory of the Continental Army’s supplies.

• In early 1777, Congress established a storehouse there for the Continental Army.
• The Commissary Department and the Quartermaster Department stored supplies at Valley Forge, which was lightly defended.

Dewees started making preparations to move the supplies and took an inventory. Colonel Clement Biddle sent the inventory to Washington and asked Dewees to do what he could to gather boats and wagons to assist in moving everything.

September 17

Following the battle, Washington’s Army slowly assembled at Yellow Springs. Then, on September 17, Washington marched northwest to Warwick Furnace and Reading Furnace. The latter was two miles further west, closer to Reading, Pennsylvania. This position allowed Washington to:

• Reach the storage depot at Reading, 30 miles northwest, where ammunition was stored.
• Monitor British movements in the Cherry Valley.
• Move to block the Schuylkill River crossings.

Washington left Wayne at Yellow Springs to harass the British, if possible, and sent General William Smallwood to reinforce him. Next, he sent troops to remove supplies from storehouses in the area. at Perkiomen Creek.

• General Thomas Mifflin was sent to Perkiomen Creek
• Colonel Alexander Hamilton and Captain Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee were sent to Valley Forge.

That same day, General Charles Cornwallis moved forward to the area around the White Horse Tavern, where elements of Washington’s Army had encamped a few days before.

• The entire army was supposed to join Cornwallis, but there was a delay.
• A guide mistakenly took the troops pulling the artillery to White Horse Tavern on the wrong road.

September 18

The remainder of Howe’s Army finally joined Cornwallis early in the morning of the 18th and marched eight miles to Tredyffrin Township, stopping at present-day Howellville, near Valley Forge.

• The heavy rains raised the water level of the Schuylkill by several feet.
• This made the river impassable, keeping Howe from crossing and marching to Philadelphia.
• The British Army was organized into a line along the south side of the Swedesford Road, facing north.

Washington was informed of Howe’s advance and wanted to respond. However, his troops were exhausted from the long march from the Chester Valley to Reading Furnace. Many were still marching from Warwick Furnace to Reading Furnace. 

• He wrote, “The Army here is so much fatigued that it is impossible I should make them move this Afternoon.” 

He also knew the British would be moving slowly due to the muddy roads and high waters. In light of these factors, he decided to send more troops to harass the flanks of Howe’s Army.

• William Maxwell and James Potter were near Valley Forge.
• At first, Washington wanted them to remain “…until that part of the baggage and Stores at the Valley can be got away…”

Soon after, Washington believed he had a chance to launch a larger attack on Howe, and told them to head west toward Yellow Springs to support Wayne and Smallwood. Washington wrote to Wayne and said, “I must call your utmost Exertion in fitting yourselves in the best manner you can for following & Harassing their Rear — Genl Maxwell will have a Similar Order & will Assist you with the Corps under his command.”

• Meanwhile, Smallwood’s advance with the Maryland Militia was delayed due to a lack of supplies. 
• Smallwood blamed it on the Commissary Department, which he said, “…throws many Obstacles in my way and retards my March.”

From Wayne’s camp, Colonel Thomas Hartley wrote, “The Enemy are in full March to Philadelphia, we shall March after them in a few Minutes. We have them in such a Situation that I think & if we defeat them, then will none of them get off.”

Action at Valley Forge

By this time, Loyalist spies had informed Howe about the American storehouse at Valley Forge, which was only three or four miles away from his location. Howe responded by sending an expedition there to raid the storehouse. Meanwhile, Hamilton, Lee, and eight of Lee’s dragoons arrived to help Dewees.

Lee recalled that he and Hamilton, “…were dispatched in front of the enemy, with the order of execution. The mill, or mills, stood on the bank of the Schuylkill. Approaching, you descend a long hill leading to a bridge over the mill-race. On the summit of the hill two vedettes were posted; and soon after the party reached the mills, Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton took possession of a flat-bottomed boat for the purpose of transporting himself and his comrades across the river, should the sudden approach of the enemy render such a retreat necessary.”

• Vedette — A sentry riding a horse. Sometimes spelled “vidette.”

The Americans were in the process of removing the supplies when one of the vedettes fired a warning shot, indicating the British expedition was approaching.

• It was late afternoon when the British arrived.
• Believing they were outnumbered, the Americans fled.
• Hamilton and six dragoons climbed onto the barge and tried to move down the Schuylkill River.
• Lee, two dragoons, and the vedettes escaped over the bridge as the British fired on them at close range.
• Dewees was killed during this engagement as he tried to flee on his horse.

Later that night, Hamilton sent a message to John Hancock, warning him that the British were closing in on Philadelphia.

• Around 10:00 p.m., a messenger arrived in Philadelphia and delivered a message from Wayne to John Hancock. The message informed him that Howe was about 18 miles from the city.
• Hancock received Hamilton’s message around midnight, confirming Wayne’s warning.

September 19

By 2:00 a.m., rumors were flying through Philadelphia that Howe had crossed the Schuylkill River and his arrival was imminent.

Hancock shared the message from Hamilton with Congress around 6:00 a.m. It was recorded that Hancock, “…received a letter from Colonel Hamilton, one of General Washington’s aids, which intimated the necessity of Congress removing immediately from Philadelphia…”

• In the early morning hours, people rushed to leave the city.
• Thomas Paine wrote to Benjamin Franklin and said, “The confusion…was very great…It was a beautiful, still, moonlit morning, and the streets as full of men, women, and children as on a market day.
• According to eyewitness accounts, the members of Congress were gone by 7:00 a.m.

Wayne at Paoli

That same morning, Wayne established a camp in the woods near Paoli Tavern. He had the 1st Pennsylvania and 2nd Pennsylvania brigades under his command, along with an artillery unit and some dragoons.

• Wayne’s second in command was Colonel Richard Humpton, who commanded the 2nd Pennsylvania.
• Colonel Thomas Hartley commanded the 1st Pennsylvania. Hartley was third in command.
• Wayne was from the area, and his home was about a mile away.
• At this position, Wayne was about two miles from the rear of the east side of the British Army.

At 7:30 a.m., Wayne wrote to Washington and told him that he had been as close as half a mile to Howe’s camp. 

• Wayne told him he did not attack because he thought the camp was too strong, but said he would if Howe marched again. 
• He asked Washington to bring the army “…as fast as Possible…” to strike a “…fatal Blow…”

Wayne continued to send messages to Washington, updating him on the status of Howe’s Army, which remained encamped. Unfortunately for the Americans, one of Washington’s messages to Wayne was intercepted. The message made it clear to Howe that Wayne and Smallwood were behind his army.

Around mid-morning, Wayne received information about British troop movements that indicated the British were aware of his location and were moving to attack. He responded by taking his troops a mile and a half southwest to high ground behind Warren Tavern.

• Wayne took his men up South Valley Hill, eventually stopping about two miles south of the Lancaster Road.
• Wayne thought this was a safe location and later said, “…the Ground we lay on was the Strongest and best suited for our Purpose…the Disposition was Perfect for Defence.”

While Wayne was on the move, there was another brief skirmish near Valley Forge. Howe responded to this by intensifying efforts to scout for American forces in the region. Around 2:00 p.m., he sent Cornwallis to Valley Forge.

• At some point, the British discovered Wayne’s location.
• In the evening, troops were sent to attack Wayne.
• As they approached, someone fired at an American scout, alerting the camp to their presence.
• The British withdrew, having lost the element of surprise.

Washington Marches Eastward

That morning, Washington’s Army left Reading Furnace and marched northeast to Parker’s Ford, where it intended to cross the Schuylkill River and then block the fords to keep the British from crossing. 

• By 2:00 p.m., the army was crossing the river at Parker’s Ford at present-day Linfield.
• It took the troops roughly two hours to cross. The water was chest-high.
• From there, the army marched to Trappe, where it passed the church where Peter Muhlenberg’s father, Henry, was the pastor.
• The army crossed Perkiomen Creek and camped near Evansburg for the night.

September 20

The next morning, September 20th, Washington resumed his march around 10:30. He marched to Swede’s Ford at present-day Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he blocked the crossing and threatened the left of Howe’s Army.

• American forces were spread between Gordon’s Ford and Swede’s Ford.
• This put Washington’s Army in a position where it could march around the left flank of Howe’s Army, but it would require another 20-mile march for the Americans to launch an attack.

Howe Plans to Attack

British letters and journals indicate that Howe and his officers were aware of the locations of the American forces.

• Several different patrols had discovered their locations or had been informed by Loyalists living in the area.
• Friedrich von Muenchhausen wrote, “…General Wayne…is only three miles behind us. We are further informed that Wayne intends to attack our rear guard and baggage as soon as we are in march again.”

With Washington blocking Swede’s Ford and Wayne behind him, Howe’s Army was in a dangerous position. If both forces attacked, the Americans would have an advantage. Howe decided to take action and attack the Americans at several locations. His main targets were:

• The American storehouse at Reading.
• The ironworks at Warwick Furnace.
• Wayne’s command, near Warren Tavern.

Howe chose Major General Charles Grey to lead the attack on Wayne. He sent orders to Grey, who was at Howellville. At the time, Major John André was serving as Grey’s assistant and recorded the following in his journal:

“Intelligence having been received of the situation of General Wayne and his design of attacking our rear, a plan was concerted for surprising him, and the execution entrusted to Major General Grey. The troops for this service were the 40th and 55th Regiments, under Colonel Musgrave, and the 2d Battalion of Light Infantry, the 42nd and 44th Regiments under General Grey. General Grey’s detachment marched at 10 o’clock at night, that under Colonel Musgrave at 11.”

• Grey’s column included roughly 2,000 men.
• The 42nd Regiment Highlanders was comprised of Scottish Highlanders and was known as the “Black Watch”.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Musgrave led the second column, including the 40th and 55th Regiments of Foot.

• Musgrave’s task was to block the Lancaster Road, cutting off Wayne’s retreat route.
• Musgrave started his march an hour after Grey.

Confusion in Wayne’s Camp

Wayne kept his camp at his location, waiting for William Smallwood, Mordecai Gist, and the Maryland Militia to join him.

• Smallwood was still more than 10 miles west of Wayne, near Downingtown.
• In the afternoon, Wayne and his commanding officers, along with Major Michael Ryan, went on a scouting mission.
• Wayne sent two scouts to find Smallwood and lead him back to Wayne’s camp.

After Wayne returned to his camp, the skies filled with gray clouds. Around 4:00, he instructed his men to build shelters to protect their weapons and ammunition.

At 6:00 that evening, Colonel Hartley wrote a letter to some friends and made it clear that Wayne’s camp was expecting an attack, saying, “I understand General Howe means to have us attacked tomorrow morning.” He was also confident that “General Smallwood will join us tonight.”

• Two hours later, a local man, whose last name was Jones, arrived at Wayne’s camp.
• Wayne was absent, having ridden out on another scouting mission.
• Jones told Hartley that he had been at the Paoli Tavern, where British troops had informed people that they were planning to attack Wayne.
• Jones remained at the camp until dark, when Wayne returned and relayed the information to him directly.

After hearing this, Wayne was certain the British were going to attack. However, he kept his camp in the same place, so Smallwood could find it. 

• Later, Wayne explained: “I had the fullest and Clearest Advice that the Enemy would march that Morning at 2 o’clock for the River Schuylkill. In consequence of that advice, I had reconnoitered a road leading immediately along the right flank of the enemy, and that in Company with Col. Humpton and Hartley, and had the men laying on their arms to move as soon as Gen. Smallwood should arrive.”

After receiving this warning from Jones, Wayne increased the number of pickets (a group of guards) around the camp from four to six. Each picket included about 20 men, with instructions to fire warning shots and then engage the British to slow their advance.

• Major William Nichols was tasked with inspecting the pickets.
• One of them was located a mile from the camp, near Paoli Tavern.
• When Nichols arrived around 9:00 p.m., he found the men were missing.
• Nichols returned to the camp and told Wayne he thought the men had likely been captured by the British. This was around 10:00.
• For the next hour, there was confusion in the camp as the officers were trying to determine where the men were.

A messenger from Lieutenant Colonel William Butler arrived and told Wayne the men had been found and were in position. This led Wayne to react angrily with Nichols. Wayne shouted at him and accused him of lying.

Grey Begins His Approach

Before moving forward, Grey ordered his men to remove the flints from their muskets to avoid accidental discharges during the night attack and to fix their bayonets. 

• He intended to attack Wayne’s camp with nothing more than a bayonet charge.
• The removal of the flints led to Grey being given the nickname “No Flint.”

Joseph Galloway, the Loyalist who served in the First Continental Congress, provided guides for Grey’s expedition.

• Grey’s expedition left its camp around 10:00.
• It marched westward on the Swedesford Road, north of Wayne’s camp.
• As the British marched, they seized anyone they encountered on the road.

Grey’s advance force, some riding horses, moved ahead of the main column. They encountered American vedettes on the Swedesford Road who emerged from the darkness. The British paused, and the Americans asked them for the password. 

• The British apparently did not respond.
• The Americans asked two more times.
• After the third request, one of the Americans fired at the British.
• Both Americans turned and rode south, in the direction of Wayne’s camp.
• The British column pushed forward, skirmishing with American scouts and pickets.

One of these scouts rode to Wayne’s headquarters, where he met with Wayne and Hartley and informed them that he had seen the British approaching. Wayne immediately sent orders for his troops to mobilize.

• The British proceeded to Warren Tavern.
• At this point, the scouts leading them knew where Wayne’s camp was, but they were unsure of the route they needed to take to reach it.

According to legend, they woke Peter Mather, the tavern’s owner, who was a Loyalist, and forced him to show them the way. However, British accounts, including André’s, indicate a local blacksmith took them to the camp.

• This blacksmith took Grey’s column east, where one of the American pickets was stationed.
• This picket, led by Lieutenant Edward Fitz Randolph of the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment, fired on the British.
• The British attacked the Americans with bayonets and swords, quickly overwhelming them.
• The American survivors fled, but not before firing warning shots.
• As many as eight Americans were killed, and Randolph was blinded in one eye.

September 21

It was around midnight on September 21, 1777, when Wayne rode through his camp, calling on his troops to form their ranks. The men responded by gathering in the meadow in front of the camp. They were facing north, toward the Lancaster Road.

• Humpton’s 2nd Pennsylvania was on the left.
• Hartley’s 1st Pennsylvania was on the right.
• The artillery company was to the right of the 1st Pennsylvania.

Colonel Humpton recalled: “I was waked by the Noise of a Person calling out, ‘turn out, turn out, the enemy is coming, give them your fire & charge bayonets’ or words to that purpose — I jumped up & found it was Genl. Wayne — I asked what was the Matter — He said the Enemy was very near — I desired Him not to ride along in that Manner as possibly it might occasion confusion amongst the Men, to ride back to the Right & that I would get the Men under arms with all possible speed.”

As they finished lining up, it started to rain, and Wayne ordered the men to cover their cartridge boxes with their coats.

• From the meadow, they heard the sound of American pickets firing on the British to the east of the camp.
• Wayne ordered the 1st Pennsylvania to form a line of battle on the east side, in some woods.
• A light infantry unit under the command of Captain James Wilson was sent ahead to slow the British advance.
• The artillery and supply wagons were taken away to keep them from being captured.

Grey’s men were moving up a hill, just east of Warren Tavern, driving the American pickets back toward the camp. Meanwhile, the second British column, led by Musgrave, was marching on the Lancaster Road and was near the Paoli Tavern.

• Grey’s advance forces followed the pickets, who continued to fire at the British.
• The British followed the flashes and sound of the gunfire up the hill to Wayne’s camp.

When the British reached the top of the hill, Grey gave the order for them to charge into the thick woods on the east side of the camp.

• The men rushed in and encountered another American picket, which fired on them.
• The British pushed through, then surprised and routed Wilson’s infantry.

The British were moving as quietly as they could, which allowed them to surprise the Americans in the darkness of the woods. As they moved forward, they encountered another American picket, routed it, and then pushed to the edge of the camp.

• The British were within 10 yards of the edge of the camp.
• American forces opened fire.
• In the confusion and darkness, some of the Americans fired on each other.

The British continued to push forward. When the Americans fired at them, they exposed their positions, allowing the British to move through the darkness and attack.

• The Americans fell back toward the camp.
• They tried to reload and fire on the British, but struggled in the darkness.
• Wayne tried to organize his men for an orderly retreat, but there was too much confusion.

By this time, another 500 men from Grey’s column were at the top of the hill, where they were organized into two columns and then sent rushing into the woods toward the 1st Pennsylvania, many of whom were still trying to reload their guns.

• The British attacked the Americans on both sides.
• The Americans panicked and fled toward the camp.
• Many of them dropped their weapons and left them.
• Their retreat was slowed due to a fence.
• The campfires were still burning, which allowed the British to easily locate the Americans.

According to nearly every account, the Americans were caught completely by surprise by the sudden appearance of British troops rushing in with their bayonets flickering in the light.

• The 2nd Pennsylvania was still in formation, but had not moved due to confusion.
• Some of the British formed a line of battle in the shape of a horseshoe, nearly surrounding them. The shape of the line gave the Americans the impression that there were more than 500.

Colonel Hartley recalled, “The enemy last night at twelve o’clock, attacked our little force with about 4000 Men — horse and foot — accompanied with all the noise and yells of hell — Our division was drawn up, but retreating… the impetuosity of the enemy was so great — Our men just raised from Sleep, moved disorderly — Confusion followed…The Carnage was very great.”

• British troops were chasing Americans through the camp.
• Fierce hand-to-hand fighting took place.

The Americans tried to flee westward, but were blocked by fences that ran along the fields next to the camp. By this time, a second wave of British troops had assembled on the hill and moved into the camp with their swords and bayonets. Dragoons led the attack on their horses, creating more panic among the Americans.

• Captain John Montressor, one of Grey’s men, recalled, “They rushed in and put the whole of the picket to the bayonet and then huzza’d, which further alarmed the main body; however, our troops rapidly advanced on their left, which were chiefly in their wigwams.”

Wayne and his officers attempted to organize men to rally and cover the retreat. Hartley said, “…several attempts were made to rally the men — but the enemy pressing so close…and so many interuption of fences that made it impossible to rally any men ‘til we had got to some distance from the enemy — the men were extremely intimidated with the noise of the enemy’s horse…”

AHC Notes

• In the investigation that followed regarding Wayne’s conduct in the battle, he was criticized for failing to have all the fence rails taken down.
• However, eyewitnesses confirmed that some had been removed because the artillery and supply wagons passed through the fences when the battle started.

On the west side of the camp, there was a path that ran between two fences to Sugartown Road and then to the road westward to White Horse Tavern. This was the route the Americans took to escape the British advance.

• The 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade was moving westward out of the camp, toward the junction of the path between the fences and Sugartown Road.
• At the head of the column was Lieutenant Colonel William Butler of the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment.
• The wagons and artillery, which had been on the south end of the camp, were headed north, to the same junction.

The two groups arrived at nearly the same time, and the 2nd Pennsylvania stopped to allow the artillery and supply wagons to move ahead.

• After moving onto the road, the wheels on one of the artillery carriages fell off.
• The cannon and the rest of the carriage blocked the road.
• The entire column came to a stop while the cannon, carriage, and wheels were moved to the side of the road.

Instead of marching north to the junction of Sugartown Road and King Road, the Americans tried to cross through a field. However, there was another fence in their way. The Americans were removing the fence rails when the British attacked the rear of the column.

Meanwhile, a third wave of British troops moved into the camp. This time, it was primarily the 42nd Highlanders (the Black Watch).

• They attacked any Americans they found left in the camp, killing or brutally wounding most of them.
• They set fire to the rough shelters that had been constructed to protect the Americans from the rain. 

Lieutenant Martin Hunter of the British Light Infantry said, “The camp was immediately set on fire; the light Infantry bayoneted every man they came up with; this, with the cries of the wounded, formed altogether the most dreadful scene I ever beheld.  Every man that fired was immediately put to death.”

Wayne continued to try to organize a rear guard and had the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment form a line of battle in the woods near the junction where the cannon carriage had fallen apart. He also sent a scout to take the road westward and find General Smallwood’s column.

• As the British attacked the rear of the column escaping the camp, the 4th Pennsylvania fired on them.
• Some of the British went into the woods after the 4th Pennsylvania and drove the Americans off.
• The Americans fled into an open field where Wayne and some of the other officers were able to form a rear guard and cover the retreat.
• British infantry continued to push ahead in the darkness, attacking any Americans they could find.

Meanwhile, Smallwood and his men were marching eastward on King Road when they heard the battle raging in the direction of Wayne’s camp. Smallwood immediately issued orders for his men to prepare for battle.

Some of the British were still pursuing Wayne’s fleeing forces and started firing on them. The British muskets and rifles had been loaded the entire time, and some of the men were too eager and disobeyed Grey’s order. This pursuit continued until they were about two miles west of Wayne’s camp, when they encountered Smallwood’s column.

• The British fired on Smallwood’s troops, killing one man.
• Some of the militia in Smallwood’s column dropped their weapons and fled.

Mordecai Gist was in command of the rear of Smallwood’s column. As the troops in front of him panicked, he organized his men and prepared to engage the British. 

• A contingent of British troops was hiding on the side of the road.
• They ambushed the Americans, and more of the militiamen fled.
• Gist’s horse was shot twice in the attack.

In the confusion, some of the Americans fired on each other. However, enough of them remained that they outnumbered the British, who ended their pursuit and fell back toward the main body of Grey’s expedition, which was in Wayne’s camp.

• Smallwood and Gist tried to restore order.
• Supplies that had been dropped and scattered were collected.
• Smallwood formed some of the men into a rear guard to cover the retreat.
• By this time, Wayne’s men were starting to come into contact with Smallwood’s.
• Due to the chaos, Smallwood ordered a retreat.
• Some of the officers organized pickets to keep watch.

Smallwood and Gist were embarrassed and outraged at the conduct of their militiamen. Gist, who had fought bravely as one of the “Maryland 400” at the Battle of Long Island, said he hoped the Governor would throw the “miscreants” into prison.

• Pockets of fighting continued across the battlefield.
• The rails on the fence along Sugartown Road were removed, allowing the Americans to retreat north and west.
• Wayne organized a rear guard to cover the retreat.

Wayne eventually joined with Smallwood, and they gathered at the Red Lion Tavern.

The Paoli Massacre

In the aftermath of the Battle of Paoli, Grey was accused of allowing his men to commit atrocities, including murdering Americans who were trying to surrender.

• Some Americans testified they heard British officers shouting “No quarter!” to their men, meaning for them to kill defenseless Americans.

Some British accounts suggest they did murder Americans.

• Lieutenant Martin Hunter said the “…whole army were so…against the Americans that they seldom gave any quarter.” The accusations of a massacre bothered Hunter, who later wrote, “The Americans ever after…called us ‘The Bloodhounds.’ I don’t think that our battalion slept very soundly after that night for a long time.”
• Captain William Hale said, “…our light infantry gave no quarter…very few prisoners were taken.”

However, according to Major André, “Seventy-one prisoners were brought off; forty of them badly wounded.” 

Despite this, rumors of the attack being a “massacre” persisted. The next day, a wounded American soldier was delivered to Americans stationed at McClellan’s Tavern. One of the Americans, 18-year-old William Hutchinson, later recalled how the man’s clothes were “stiff with gore.”

• The man was from Virginia and had been surrounded by a dozen British troops.
• The British proceeded to torture him by stabbing him with their bayonets.
• He was able to climb to his feet and escape.
• A local man found him in the woods and carried him to McClellan’s.
• A doctor was called to McClellan’s to examine the Virginian.
  • They cleaned him and found 46 bayonet wounds.
  • Most of them were flesh wounds, which bled profusely.
  • He stayed at McClellan’s until he was able to walk, and then he was taken to a hospital.

The manner of the British victory at Paoli led men in Washington’s Army to shout, “Remember Paoli!” in subsequent engagements with the British.

Bibliography and Suggested Reading

• Commager, Henry Steele, and Morris, Richard B. The Spirit of ‘Seventy-Six. 2002.
• Drury, Bob, and Clavin, Tom. Valley Forge. 2018.
• Fremont-Barnes, Gregory, and Ryerson, Richard A. The Encyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War, Volume 3. 2006.
• Greene, Francis Vinton. The Revolutionary War and the Military Policy of the United States. 1911.
• Harris, Michael C. Brandywine: A Military History of the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved America, September 11, 1777. 2014.
• Harris, Michael C. Germantown: A Military History of the Battle for Philadelphia, October 4, 1777. 2020.
• McGuire, Thomas J. Battle of Paoli. 2000.
• Selesky, Harold E., Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, Second Edition.
• Taffe, Stephen R. The Philadelphia Campaign 1777–1778. 2003.
• Ward, Christopher. The War of the Revolution. 2012.