Volume 8, Number 4 Chapter Meetings February 2018
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Volume 8, Number 4 February 2018 Welcome to this issue of your Colorado River Chapter, Red, White and Blue Newsletter. This Newsletter is an official publication of the Colorado Campaigns and Battles of the River Chapter, AZSSAR. American Revolution We hope you enjoy this Newsletter and the updates (1775-1783) and information it provides. Our series on Battles of the American Revolution continues with this issue’s installment – Battle of Chapter Meetings Paoli (also known as the Massacre of Paoli) (Philadelphia Campaign). I hope you find it interesting and informative! Next Chapter Meeting February 10th Calico’s Restaurant Kingman Battle of Paoli Based on active attendance, for the present Colorado (Also known as Massacre of Paoli) River Chapter meetings will be held in Kingman at Calico’s Restaurant, 418 W Beale Street, downtown (Philadelphia Campaign) Kingman, off I-40 exit 48. 21 September 1777 Beginning in 2018 – meetings will be every other month starting in February in Kingman for the time It was cool and damp night, when this battle would being. take place about 18 miles west of Philadelphia. The terrain in 1777, was gently rolling hills dotted by rural villages, and farms. The American encampment Compatriots, do you have a friend, relative or was in the South Valley Hills area in a large field someone else you know who would like to become a surrounded by thick woods. member of the Sons of the American Revolution SAR. Send them to me so we can attempt to increase After the Battle of the Clouds (16 Sep) ended our membership! This is an easy way to help your prematurely because of heavy rain that made it Chapter! impossible to continue the fight, the British army went into camp at Tredyfferin, PA. It was felt by the British’s General Howe that he could easily move of the Americans, followed by a daring night attack from this location east across the Schuykill River and with only bayonets, musket butts, and swords. The attack Philadelphia or the Patriot supply depot at British intended to accomplish this stealth move by Reading, Pa to the west. removing their flints lest an accidental rifle shot which would alert the American of their approach. Grey’s men moved out on 20 Sep at about 10:00 pm with the 2d Light Infantry Battalion and the 42d and 44th Regiments of Foot. There were two additional regiment which were to follow a few hours later but they would play no role in the fighting. For the Americans after losing at Brandywine 11 Sep, and escaping a potential disaster at the Battle of the Clouds, five day later, General Washington had withdrawn his army west across the Schuykill River towards Reading, PA to refit and re-supply his men. In his wake was Brigadier General Wayne’s division of 1,500 men and four pieces of artillery. Wayne was serving ad the rearguard to harass and delay any British attempts to pursue the Americans. Wayne’s division took up positions two miles southwest of Paoli Tavern, because he had grown up in the area and knew the roads and fields well. Despite being familiar with the area filled with kith and kin, he had to deal with the fact that many Tories also lived there. Anxious to see their rebellious neighbors quelled by British allies, the Loyalists had no qualms about sharing intelligence on Wayne’s’ While the British were in camp, local Tory spies disposition of his men. reported that the main American army under General Washington had crossed over the Schuylkill, River, By the time the sun set on 20 Sep, Wayne and his but that their remained a sizeable number of men were settled comfortably in their tents, a light American soldiers neat the Paoli Tavern whose cool rain fell in the fields outside. The Americans mission was to assault the flank of any British pursuit had posted guards in the camp and on the roads of Washington’s column. Additionally, the leading to it, and nothing seem out of the ordinary. Americans had left valuable supplies at Valley Forge. British General Grey began his operation by General Howe who rarely acted quickly, deciding to marching his men quickly and had them in position to move a veteran force under a capable leader to strike the Americans by 1:00 am. He arranged his destroy the detached Patriots and retrieve those left soldiers accordingly and advanced them east towards behind supplies. the sleeping American bivouac, knowing a night attack was difficult to execute and even more British Major General Grey was placed in charge of difficult to control. this operation to capture the American supplies. He decided to employ a stealth march to get within range The Americans had a few sentries posted on the outskirts of the American camp who opened fire on the advancing British before turning to flee and raise Casualties; British: 4 killed, and 7 wounded. the alarm. American: 53 killed, 100 wounded, and 71 captured. A surprise General Wayne order his men into battle Source: A Guide to the Battles of the American formation, but he could not get his soldiers into Revolution by Savas and Dameron. fighting form before the British was upon him. The British had followed Grey’s orders to the letter, and NEXT: Battle of Germantown (Philadelphia the only British weapons used in the first few minutes Campaign), 4 Oct 1777. of the fight were bayonets and swords. Illuminated by their campfires, the American were easily shot down by an unseen enemy who relied on Paoli Battlefield cold steel to rouse men from their tents and finish the bloody attack. The ground where this battle took place is now part of an expensive Philadelphia suburb called the Realizing that he would not be able to really his men Borough of Malvern which got its name due to its into proper formation, Wayne and his officers was to proximity to the Paoli Tavern, which was a well- it that four artillery pieces were hauled to safety known landmark in 1777. while the bulk of his army fled west in search of safety. The Paoli Battlefield Historical Park in located at Monument Ave and Wayne Ave, in Malvern, PA. The Americans soldiers who escaped to safety rallied The park is managed by the Paoli Massacre at the various taverns and houses west of the Preservation Fund and consists of 44 acres which was battlefield, and few days later Wayne’s division preserved in 1999. The Battlefield was dedicated 21 rejoined Washington’s main army. A court of Sep 2002 on the 225th anniversary of the battle. inquiry cleared Wayne of any negligence or blame for this attack. The Paoli Monument is the second oldest Revolutionary War battle monument. After the attack on Wayne’s soldiers, General Grey moved his men back to join the main British army and their campaign to capture Philadelphia. While the surprise attack did end the American’s ability to harass Howe’s army, in had had repercussions few had anticipated. The Patriots viewed an attack against sleeping soldiers cowardly, which in turn increase American morale. Outrage followed when word spread that the dead had been “mangled” before being buried in a mass grave. Rumors also surfaced that Grey’s men had refused quarter to those soldiers trying to surrender, which is Map of Paoli Battlefield Location how the term “Paoli Massacre” became associated with this attack but, Grey had left most of the seriously wounded in houses for better care, their may be some lack of truth to the no-quarter statements. But that did not stop the fact that the dead now became martyrs. This is a view of the original 1817 Monument which was 22 ½ feet tall and erected over the original burial mound, and surrounded by wrought iron fence with 2 A view to the park and other monuments with the Revolutionary War cannons grave site Monument wall in the rear Put this park on your list of other Revolutionary War sites to visit when you are in the Philadelphia area! Chapter Member Birthdays February 2018 Ronald Smith – 25th This is what remains of the 1817 Monument which is March 2018 6 feet tall as the original base was stolen Ray Lackey – 24th Jimmie Bodenhamer 29th Calendar of Upcoming Events February 1st Chapter Newsletter Mailed February 10th Chapter Meeting Kingman Monument Entrance with cannons th February 14 Valentine’s Day February 19th Chapter Officers Presidents Day Ray Lackey – President – (928) 754-1941 March 11th Daylight Saving Vacant – Vice President Time Begins Vacant – Secretary/Treasurer March 17th St Patrick’s Day Jimmie Bodenhamer – Registrar/Genealogist – (928) 692-6636 March 25th Palm Sunday March 30th Newsletter Editor Good Friday March 31st Hope you enjoyed this newsletter and I look forward Passover to any comments or suggestions. Jimmie Bodenhamer, Editor, [email protected]. Need April 1st another copy of this Newsletter? It is on our AZ Chapter Newsletter Mailed SAR website link. th April 14 Chapter Meeting Kingman Membership If you need assistance with a membership issue, or know someone interested in joining the NSSAR, please provide me the contact information and I will work the issue for you. Jimmie Bodenhamer, Registrar/Genealogist, Colorado River Chapter AZSSAR, 5805 N Cedar Ridge Lane, Kingman, AZ 86409-9345, [email protected], (928) 692-6636. .