Strategic Landscapes Preservation Plan:
Rearguard Defense &
Strategic Retreat Executive Summary August 2016 American Battle ield Protection Program Battle ield Planning Grants
The Delaware County Planning Department secured a grant in 2013 from the American Battle ield Protection Program (ABPP) to further investigate the importance of two local actions in the larger Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777; namely the Strategic Retreat near the Concord Meetinghouse and along Thornton Road in Concord and Thornbury townships and the Rearguard Defense near Dilworthtown in Chadds Ford. Battle of Brandywine reenactment at the Brandywine Battle ield National Historic Landmark Park Other battle ields that have received Battle ield Planning Grants from ABPP include sites from:
The Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown Princeton Battle ield
The War of 1812 Battle of Lake Erie Battle of Baltimore
The Mexican‐American War The Siege of Fort Brown The Brandywine Battle ield earned the highest level of national historic designation when the National Historic Landmark Park opened in Chadds The Battle of San Pasqual Ford Township in 1961 (pictured is the Gideon Gilpin House) The Civil War Fredericksburg Spotsylvania Manassas
American Indian Wars Black Hills War United States‐Dakota War Nez Perce War Cheyenne‐Sioux Indian Wars
World War II Pearl Harbor
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he Battle of Brandywine was one of the American Revolution’s New Research Materials largest, with nearly 30,000 American and British troops involved T The newly discovered Robertson in the battle across 35,000 acres within Chester County and Delaware Map and subsequent works by County. One of the earliest battles of the Revolutionary War, the Battle Thomas J. McGuire and Thomas of Brandywine saw General George Washington’s citizen soldiers Harris shed new light on the Battle engaging General William Howe and his professional army from sunup of the Brandywine events that to sundown on September 11, 1777. Though the Americans lost this took place within Delaware battle, their overall resiliency demonstrated a strength that inspired the County. con idence of the French and increased their support of the American British Captain Archibald cause. Robertson created the map titled Plan of the Battle of Brandywine Delaware County’s Strategic Landscapes Preservation Plan: Rearguard immediately following the battle. Defense & Strategic Retreat investigates two of the thirteen “strategic Located in the King’s Map landscapes” identi ied in Chester County Planning Commission’s 2013 Collection within the Royal Library Brandywine Battle ield Preservation Plan: Revolution in the Peaceful at Windsor Castle, the map was Valley. Designed to engage communities in conversations about the newly discovered by author importance of western Delaware County’s role during the battle, the Thomas J. McGuire. plan provides guidance on preserving, promoting, and educating the The map igured public about these signi icant events. prominently in his 2006 book, The Philadelphia P O R Campaign: Brandywine and the Fall of Extensive public participation was the foundation of this plan. This Philadelphia. included assembling a steering committee; convening public meetings; communicating with municipal representatives and landowners; and general outreach. Three working groups collaborated with the Michael C. Harris’ Department throughout the project. 2014 work, Stakeholders involved with the plan included: Brandywine: A Military History of Chadds Ford Historical Society William Brinton 1704 House the Battle that Concord Township Historical Chadds Ford Business Lost Philadelphia but Saved Society Association America, Thornbury Historical Society Concord Country Club September 11, Brandywine Battle ield Park Concordville Inn 1777, relied on Associates McGuire’s updated understanding Destination Delco of troop location. The Brandywine Conservancy Businesses clustered along Newlin Grist Mill historic Route 202
Archeology In addition to reaching out to the public, the Delaware County Planning Department hired the Cultural Resource Management irm JMA, a CCRG Company, to conduct an Archeological Design Analysis for the Preservation Plan. The analysis was entirely research‐based and non‐ invasive. The Plan’s archeological section includes a geomorphic analysis of the battle ield and an assessment of potential archeological remains. JMA relied on military terrain analysis to identify the boundaries of the Rearguard Defense and Strategic Retreat study areas. he plan includes in‐depth portrayals of ten de ining T features, nine of which are illustrated on the map below. A battle ield’s de ining features are described by the American Battle ield Preservation Program as: “...natural terrain features, manmade features, and place names found in battle descriptions or on historic maps that can be used to locate signi icant actions and The path of the Strategic Retreat events that associated with a battle. A de ining feature re lects the landscape in which the may be a place such as town or farm, a structure such as Americans withdrew along Thornton a mill, house or church, a road, wood lot, earthwork, or Road and Route 1, enabling them to farm ield: it may be a natural terrain feature, such as a rally in order to face the British stream, hill, ford, or ravine.... Features that no longer another day. exist...are not mapped as de ining features.”
During the Rearguard Defense, Major General Nathanael Greene and his men formed a defensive line to stop the advancement of the British troops, thus allowing the Americans to more easily retreat. R T ‐A
Boundary Clari ication An inventory of battle ield assets was conducted in order to create the interpretation plans. These assets each have the potential to help edu‐ The eastern boundary of the cate and engage the public about the battle. Rearguard Defense has been a Gateway Site subject of some debate. Earlier maps depicted the eastern ex‐ Brandywine Battle ield Park tent of the encounter as an arc Public Historic Sites that extended northeast of 1704 House Route 202 near its intersection Yellow House with Oakland Rd.; however, the Newlin Grist Mill Robertson map showed that the Concord Meetinghouse northeastern boundary fol‐ lowed 202. The eastern bound‐ Concord Township Municipal Building ary has now been revised to Viewing Corridors run along Route 202 rather Greene Defense Viewing Corridor than arc east of it. Washington’s Retreat Heritage Center Washington’s Withdrawal: Dilworthtown
Clockwise from top right: Yellow House, 1704 House, Concord Township Municipal Building, Newlin Grist Mill, Concord Meetinghouse N S
he plan explores two avenues of approach to capitalize on the rich Historical T history of the Battle of the Brandywine. The irst avenue discusses the preservation options available within the wishes of the townships Interpretation and stakeholders who collaborated on the plan. The second avenue took Interpretation refers to the ways all the ideas, facts, and concerns that were discussed by the in which information is conveyed Interpretation Working Group and created an Interpretive Network of to visitors and the general public, different themes that would be communicated in a simple, self‐contained often installed at historic sites or manner. museums. Interpretative materials communicate a message using Outlined within the plan are ideas using current planning strategies for original objects and narratives so battle ield protection and some nontraditional planning concepts. These that the public understands not concepts include: only what took place during a Public Education signi icant event but also its meaning within a broader Building Conservation historical context. Voluntary Design Guidelines Archeology Education While not a typical topic in the Certi ied Local Government planning ield, interpretation has been included in this plan because Cluster Developments the irst step in protecting Transfer of Development Rights battle ields is for the public to Existing Tools to Promote Agriculture recognize their importance. Funding Opportunities Pictured below is one of the The Interpretation Network identi ies seven varied themes that appeal to sample brochures featured in the different audiences and that can be communicated using different preservation plan. Visitors can use methods to encourage a wide audience to connect with the Battle of the the brochures to conduct self‐ Brandywine, including: guided tours of the seven themes or at speci ic battle ield sites. General Understanding of the Battle of Brandywine: The Battle as a Pivotal Event in the American Revolution Living to Fight Another Day: Strategic Retreating as a Tactical Maneuver Saving the American Army from Disaster: The Rearguard Defense Treating the Injured: Exploring Delaware County’s Role From Encampment to Retreat: The Tremendous Impact on Delaware County Communities Remembering Those Who Sacri iced: Rearguard Defense & Strategic Retreat War in a Peaceful Valley: The Quaker Community and the Battle of Brandywine
Both of the outlined continuing efforts listed above are complete with detailed action plans that include both short term and mid‐to‐long term recommendations in the preservation plan. If you would like to read the plan, please visit http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/planning/pubs/ StrategicLandscapesPreservationPlan.html. Acknowledgments Delaware County Council Delaware County Planning Department Mario J. Civera, Chairman Linda F. Hill, Director Colleen P. Morrone, Vice Chairman Beverlee Barnes, Historic Preservation Manager John P. McBlain Jill N. Hall, AICP, Principal Planner David J. White Laura Proctor, Associate Planner Michael Culp Anne Stauffer, GIS Coordinator County Executive Marianne Grace Delaware County Planning Commission William C. Payne, Chairman Thomas J. Judge, Sr., Vice Chairman Kenneth Zitarelli, Secretary Kathy A. Bogosian JMA, a CCRG Company Lorraine Bradshaw Wade Catts, Principal Historian/Archeologist Josephine M. Laird Elisabeth LaVigne, Geomorphologist Patrick L. Patterson Kevin Donaghy, Historical Archeologist Christine Valerio Kathryn Wood, Administrative Assistant
Newlin Grist Mill