The Battle of Paoli, also known as the Paoli Massacre, was one of the lowest moments for the Continental Army during the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777. The midnight attack sparked chaos and panic amongst General Anthony Wayne’s Pennsylvania Division, of whom many died at the end of a bayonet. This carnage led to a promise of revenge against the British and the Pennsylvania troop’s famous battle cry “Remember Paoli!” Today, the battlefield is preserved as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice so many paid during the American Revolution.
History
After a galling defeat in the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, General Washington marched his army east across the Schuylkill River and through Philadelphia. After a brief stop in Germantown, they marched back across the Schuylkill to defend Philadelphia and if possible, reengage the British Army. A rematch looked promising when the two armies positioned themselves for battle on the morning of September 16; however, a torrential rain forced both armies to disengage. This aborted action would become known as the Battle of the Clouds.
After the Battle of the Clouds, Washington and his army maneuvered to Yellow Springs and then on to Reading Furnace by September 18 (this was to protect crucial iron works and supplies there). Late on September 18, General Washington dispatched General “Mad” Anthony Wayne and his Pennsylvania Division south towards Malvern and the Paoli Tavern with orders to harass the British rearguard and attempt to capture or destroy the British baggage train. On September 19 and 20, Washington marched the remainder of his army across the Schuylkill River to protect key river fords on the eastern shore.
General Wayne and his approximately 2,200 troops camped out ~2 miles southwest of Paoli Tavern and awaited reinforcements from Brigadier General William Smallwood and his Maryland militia, who were camped to the west. Throughout the day of September 20, General Wayne left on occasion to reconnoiter the area, while his troops remained in camp and built “booths” out of sticks and tree branches to protect their arms and munitions from possible rain (a lesson they had learned during the Battle of the Clouds). As the Americans remained in camp, British General Howe learned of their presence through patrols and a well-managed intelligence network. The British Army was preparing to cross the Schuylkill River and General Howe did not want to be harassed or attacked by an American Army to his rear- so he intended to do something about it. Throughout the evening, General Wayne received multiple reports (warnings) of an impending British attack; however, he ultimately chose to stay put to ensure General Smallwood and his men would be able to find them.
Around 10pm on September 20, British Major General Charles Grey with approximately 1,200 soldiers (mostly light infantry with a dozen troopers from the 16th Dragoons) left the British camp at Tredyffrin and marched down the Swedesford Road to launch a surprise attack on the American camp. During the march, General Grey ordered a majority of his men to remove the flints from their muskets to ensure there were no accidental firings so as to maintain secrecy (this earned him the nickname General “No Flint” Grey). An American horse patrol saw and challenged the approaching British troops on the Swedesford Road before riding back to camp to warn General Wayne.
In order to find the exact location of the General Wayne’s camp, the British forced a blacksmith at the Warren Tavern to serve as a guide. As the British troops stealthily moved south, they encountered American picket #4, comprised of a few Continental soldiers. These men were able to fire a few warning shots before making an escape or being killed.
Unlike what some believe, the Americans were not surprised as they slept. General Wayne had been alarmed of the approaching British and rode through camp and ordered his men to turn out and form up. In order to protect the four cannons and supply wagons, General Wayne ordered them to immediately evacuate to the west.
It was just after midnight on September 21, 1777 when the British approached the American camp from the north and east. The loosely formed American troops were unable to see the charging British until they were just upon them (it didn’t help that many of the American troops were silhouetted against their campfires). The British attack came in three waves, as confusion and carnage ensued in the once peaceful farm field. Amidst the violent chaos, the American artillery and supply wagons continued to hastily retreat west through gaps in the fence. This hurried movement caused one of the cannon’s to lose a wheel, which halted the wagons behind it. The disabled cannon blocked the retreat of Wayne’s troops for a few minutes, which led to further slaughter from British bayonets.
Any Continental troops remaining in or near the camp were chased down and furiously killed by bayonet, many not given quarter. Some retreating troops sought safety in the adjacent fields and woods, but were hunted down and killed amidst the darkness of the night. British Light Infantry pursued General Wayne’s troops for 1-2 miles and even encountered and skirmished with General Smallwood’s 2,100 Maryland militia off to the west (it is said that over 1,000 of these militia immediately fled in all directions). The remainder of General Wayne’s troops regrouped near the White Horse Tavern.
The Battle of Paoli, also known as the Paoli Massacre, ended after only about an hour of fighting. At least 53 Continental soldiers had been killed, nearly 150 wounded, and 71 taken prisoner (40 of the prisoners were badly wounded and left at various houses and taverns in the area). The British suffered four killed and seven wounded. Following the battle, local farmers buried the dead in a common grave on the battlefield, where they have laid ever since.
Interesting Facts
- General Wayne was forced to abandon the disabled cannon during the attack, which was a serious loss to the American Army
- The 1817 marble monument at the Paoli Battlefield is considered the second oldest war memorial in the United States
- In 1999, the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund raised $2.6 million to purchase and preserve 40 acres of General Wayne’s encampment/the battlefield
- In 2007, the National Park Service categorized the Paoli Battlefield as a threatened historic site
Our Visit & Recommendations
The Paoli Battlefield Historical Park (Monument Ave & Wayne Ave, Malvern, PA 19355) is located about 45 minutes west of Philadelphia and only 15 minutes from the Valley Forge National Historical Park, so it is fairly easy to visit if you are exploring the area! There is ample roadside parking at the battlefield and it is all very walkable (there is even a trail through the woods you can hike).
We spent a late summer afternoon touring the Paoli Battlefield and were pleasantly surprised with how well-preserved everything was. Despite being in a very busy area (covered in businesses, neighborhoods, and roads), once you step onto the battlefield you are seemingly taken back to 1777.
One of the most prominent features at the battlefield is a large obelisk monument dedicated to the men who died at Paoli. This monument was “erected by the citizens of Chester and Delaware Counties, September 20, 1877, being the centennial anniversary of the Paoli Massacre.” There are a series of inscriptions around the base of this monument, all of which were copied from the original 1817 monument that once stood in that spot.
After reading the inscriptions on the 1877 obelisk monument, we made our way over towards a rectangular stone wall enclosure guarded by two large cannons. Here is where the 53 American soldiers who were killed are buried. Immediately following the battle, local farmers buried the American dead in two rows of 26 near the fence line. It is said that two weeks later, another soldier was found in the nearby woods and also buried here, making the total 53.
The two cannons are believed to be original American made artillery from the American Revolution and cast at Warwick Furnace in Chester County, PA (they would likely have been used in a fortification or on a ship). The story goes that they were tossed into a creek when the British invaded the area and recovered in the 1800s. The stone wall (since reconstructed) and monument were dedicated on September 20, 1817 (the 40th anniversary of the Paoli Massacre), which was accompanied by a parade of nearly 400 volunteer troops. Present at the dedication were Isaac, son of Anthony Wayne, and the 82-year old Reverend David Jones, who was the chaplain for Wayne’s brigade and a survivor of Paoli. Today, the 203-year old monument is protected by a clear case and is almost impossible to read, but the solemnity remains.
The battlefield itself is not massive (nothing like Gettysburg or Valley Forge), which makes it easy to walk around and explore. There are a few information panels throughout the park, which provide a great deal of information about the camp and battle (unfortunately, some of these signs are incredibly worn and difficult to read).
We walked out towards a re-created fence line and a disabled cannon (missing a wheel), which serves as a reminder of that fateful night. To give you perspective, this fence line and cannon stand about in the center of General Wayne’s camp (note the previously provided map with the “you are here” symbol). You can almost picture the Pennsylvania troops camped out in these farm fields, with the cannons and supply wagons neatly organized off to the side. If you look eastward, this is the direction that General Grey’s light infantry attacked from.
Although there are some houses on the outskirts of the battlefield, the various entities that have worked to preserve the actual land and memory of the Paoli Massacre have done an outstanding job. Out of the many battlefields and historic sites we have visited, the Paoli Battlefield Historical Park is one of our favorites.
In the woods adjacent to the battlefield is an approximately one mile trail loop, which can be accessed from just south of the 1817 monument. We decided to make the short hike, which initially takes you parallel to the battlefield. There are also small trails (leading off the main trail) back to the battlefield, where you can take in a different view and read the occasional information panel (as seen below).
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Paoli Battlefield Historical Park- not just because we were able to explore the historic grounds, but because we were able to pay tribute and honor the American patriots who died and were buried in that very field.
As the Chester County Planning Commission continues to work with preservation and historical organizations in order to protect the Paoli battlefield and surrounding historic sites, hopefully Americans will continue to remember, visit, and cherish these precious historic places.
Book recommendation: Battle of Paoli by Thomas J. McGuire
Source(s): https://www.chescoplanning.org/HisResources/BattlePaoli.cfm
Excellent article. Maybe you should give tours!