Near modern-day Malvern, Pennsylvania are a few historic signs marking the battle that never was: The Battle of the Clouds. Taking place between the Battle of Brandywine (September 11) and the Battle of Paoli (also known as the “Paoli Massacre” – September 20), many have never heard of it. The battle is considered an “aborted engagement” that could have developed into a major fight if it weren’t for inclement weather. But despite the absence of major fighting, the battle revealed General Washington’s determination to defend Philadelphia and the important role weather played in 18th-century warfare.
History
As British General Howe’s campaign to capture the rebel capital city of Philadelphia developed, General Washington positioned his army to best meet the approaching enemy and to defend the city. The first major blow came on September 11, 1777 when the British army out-maneuvered and defeated the Americans along the banks of Brandywine Creek in what would become known as the Battle of Brandywine. Following the battle, the Continental army retreated through the town of Chester and encamped near Germantown while most of the British army remained on the battlefield until September 16.
On September 14, the Continental army marched back across the Schuylkill River and continued west into Chester County. By September 15, the 11,000 soldiers of the Continental army had entered the Great Valley and encamped along the Old Lancaster Road. General Washington made his headquarters at the Randal Malin House (no longer standing) at the fork of the Lancaster and Swedesford Roads. Another building that was central to the region and located at a critical crossroads was the White Horse Tavern (still standing along Swedesford Road).
After British General Howe learned of the Continental army’s new position, he ordered his 15,000 troops into two columns and marched them north towards the White Horse Tavern to engage. The first shots of the battle rang out at the head of General Wilhelm von Knyphausen’s column when an American scouting party fired upon the British troops (1 British soldier was killed and 2 were wounded).
When Washington learned of Howe’s approach, he deployed his troops down the eastern and western approaches to the White Horse Tavern. Along the Chester Road (the eastern approach), British General Cornwallis’ column briefly clashed with some Pennsylvania militia, which resulted in 12-14 American militia killed. As the armies maneuvered to gain the advantage, a heavy rain began to fall that soaked the men and their powder, which caused a multitude of gun misfires. The last of the morning’s fighting took place around Boot Tavern, which resulted in 5 Hessian jaegers killed (7 wounded) and 8-11 Americans killed with some taken prisoner.
The torrential rains soaked the cartridge boxes and mired the soldiers in mud, making a full-scale engagement impossible. Around 5pm, the British forces called off the attack and General Washington and the Continental army regrouped around the White Horse Tavern. So ended the Battle of the Clouds.
Interesting Facts
- “The Battle of the Clouds” is named for the severe rainstorm and poor weather that limited the action (a full-scale engagement never took place). It is also known as the Battle of White Horse Tavern and the Battle of Goshen
- The heavy rain and soaked cartridges forced the Hessian Jaegers to use their hunting swords in combat against the Continental forces
- Following the battle, General Washington ordered a majority of the army’s stores to Valley Forge, which was the eventual winter encampment for the Continental army
Our Visit & Recommendations
It was a fittingly rainy day when we explored Malvern and the surrounding area where the Battle of the Clouds took place. Although there is not a dedicated park or battlefield to the action that took place on September 16, there are a few historical markers that you can visit (Chester County does a fantastic job at recording, understanding, and memorializing their history). The first stop we made was at the historic White Horse Tavern (606 Swedesford Rd, Malvern, PA 19355).
When visiting the White Horse Tavern, it is important to remember and be respectful of the fact that it is privately owned (there are no public tours available). If you would like to see pictures of inside the tavern and learn more about its history, check out the website: https://www.whitehorse tavern.org/.
We parked alongside the road near a historical marker that stands in front of the tavern, which marks the approximate area where the Continental army encamped before and regrouped after the battle. The historical marker in front of the tavern reads:
Following the September 1777 Battle of Brandywine, Continental forces retreated to regroup along Swedesford Road near the White Horse Tavern. With British troops in pursuit, the onset of a sudden downpour and resulting wet gunpowder delayed an imminent confrontation. Outnumbered Continental forces were able to retreat northwest, securing fresh supplies and ammunition. A loss here would have been disastrous to the American cause.
After our brief stop at the White Horse Tavern, we drove approximately 7 minutes south to the campus of Immaculata University where a second historical marker for the battle stands. To find this somewhat obscure historical marker, put “Villa Maria Hall” into your GPS to find it (the marker is directly in front of this building). This marker is placed here because the current location of Immaculata University is the approximate location of some of the day’s fighting. If you want to gain a better understanding of the area and how the troops moved and where they clashed, I recommend checking out the Chester County website: https://www.chescoplanning.org/ HisResources/BattleClouds.cfm (here you will find a plethora of detailed information and battle maps).
While there may not be a preserved battlefield for the Battle of the Clouds, it still served as an important chapter of the Philadelphia Campaign. The day’s action revealed General Washington’s determination to defend Philadelphia and the seemingly providential rainstorm prevented the British from routing or possibly destroying the Continental army. If you are already in the area visiting historic sites in the area such as Valley Forge, Brandywine, or Paoli, these are some neat historic spots to round out your trip!
Source(s): https://www.chescoplanning.org/HisResources/BattleClouds.cfm