Washington’s headquarters Sept. 9 thru the morning of the 11th, 1777.  The Benjamin Ring house was built in 1720 with the larger addition in 1730.  It was gutted by fire in 1931 and rebuilt in 1951.

The Daniel Davis house, a/k/a Fair Meadow Farm, dates from 1740.  The British light infantry advanced across this field from those buildings to attach the 3rd VA in the orchard across Street Rd.

Looking west across the Brandywine by Chadds Ford.  There are extensive marshes on the east bank in this area.

Battle of Brandywine

September 11, 1777, on this site and along this corridor, 800 continental soldiers under General “Scotch Willie” Maxwell engaged some 8000 British Troops.  So began the Battle of Brandywine.  Taking advantage of terrain and cover of woods, Maxwell’s light infantry inflicted heavy losses on the British before retreating to positions east of the Brandywine.

The southern anchor of Maxwell’s skirmish line after falling back from Kennett Meeting.

Part of the line Maxwell established after falling back from Kennett Friends.

Maxwell fell back from Kennett Meeting to form a line from the Pennsbury Inn, past the White Barn to the Hickory Hill Rd house.  The line fired several volleys into the approaching British.

In memory of Hessian soldiers whose lives were lost at the Battle of the Brandywine on 14 September, 1777

Battle of Brandywine

Sept. 11, 1777

The British attack on the American right wing began here late in the afternoon.  After heavy fighting, the defense line which Sullivan formed hastily near Birmingham Meeting House was forced to retreat to Dilworthtown, 2 miles SE.  Reinforcements from Chadds Ford delayed the British as Sullivan’s men fell back.

Battle of Brandywine

The battle ended just southwest of here at nightfall.  With Howe and his troops holding the field, Washington’s force withdrew to Chester.  Although he was wounded, Lafayette helped to reorganize the retreating troops, and Pulaski’s cavalry protected them from attack.

Battle of Brandywine

Howe planned two separate attacks against the American line.  In early morning, the British Army divided here.  Knyphausen’s troops went east to engage the center of the line at Chadds Ford, while a force under Cornwallis marched approximately 6 miles north, then 3 miles east, to outflank Washington’s right wing and to attack from the rear.

Battle of Brandywine

On Sept. 11, 1777, an American force of about 11,000 men commanded by Washington, attempted to halt a British advance into Pennsylvania.  The Americans were defeated near Chadds Ford on Brandywine Creek by approximately 18,000 British and Hessian troops under Howe.

Casimir Pulaski

Polish volunteer, commanded cavalry detachment helping to cover Washington’s retreat from Brandywine, Sept. 11,1777.  As brigadier general, served Sept. 1777 – March 1778 as first overall commander of the Continental Army’s cavalry.  He was mortally wounded at the siege of Savannah, Oct 9, 1779.

Battle of Brandywine

On Sept. 11, 1777, an American force of about 11,000 men, commanded by Washington, attempted to halt a British advance into Pennsylvania.  The Americans were defeated near Chadds Ford on Brandywine Creek by approximately 18, 000 British and Hessian troops under Howe.

Battle of Brandywine

The center of the American line, Wayne commanding, was near Chadds Ford and faced west.  In late afternoon as Cornwallis was making the main assault on the American right wing, 3 miles north, Knyphausen’s division of British and Hessians crossed Brandywine Creek, attacked Wayne and forced him to retreat.

John Chad’s House

Proctor’s American Artillery occupied several redoubts near this house at the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777.

John Chad House

Built 1725. Chadds Ford Historical Society provides tours.  Proctor’s PA Artillery was positioned just behind it.

Chadd’s Ford

The Battle of Brandywine took place in this vicinity September 11, 1777 within sight of this point.  The Americans under Washington and Wayne engaged the British and Hessians under Knyphausen, who had advanced from the westward.  The main battle took place about two miles to the northward, where the British under Howe and Cornwallis flanked the American right wing under Sullivan and compelled the retreat of Washington’s army towards Chester.

No Tablet found.

The American Light Infantry

near this place vigorously resisted the advance of the British at the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777.

Kennett Wall

This wall was used by Maxwell’s Light Infantry to fire on the British column advancing towards Chadd’s Ford.  It was the first sustained engagement of the battle.

Old Kennett Meetinghouse

Built in 1710.  Knyphausen’s British attack first encountered the American line here.

Kennett Meeting House

Here the Americans, under Maxwell, opened fire upon the advancing Hessians, thus beginning the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777.

Pipe post found, tablet missing.

The British Army

which had disembarked at the head of Elk River and was advancing for the capture of Philadelphia, divided at this point early in the morning of September 11, 1777.  Knyphausen’s division of Hessians and British followed the Old Chester Road direct to Chadd’s Ford, while Howe with Cornwallis’ division marched north to Trimble’s Ford on the western Brandywine and thence east to Jefferis’ Ford on the eastern Brandywine in order to outflank the American Army under Washington at Chadd’s Ford.

No Tablet found.

In 1915, when these series of 16 keystone-shaped Tablets were placed, the flanking march was thought to go up School House Rd.  Later it was thought N. Walnut Rd to the west was used.  Current thinking is Unionville Rd even further west.

Lafayette Monument

On the rising ground a short distance south of this spot Lafayette was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine September 11th 1777.

“The honor of having mingled my blood with that of many other American Soldiers, on the heights of the Brandywine, has been to me a source of pride and delight.”  Lafayette at West Chester, PA, July 26, 1825

Grape Hyacinth

Birmingham Hill is covered in spring by grape hyacinth.  British Guards and Grenadiers charged up this hill.

Dilworthtown

The Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, ended a short distance southeast of this place.

Dilworthtown Inn

Built in 1758.  Served as a hospital and prison after the battle.

Entrance to parking area.  Walking path around field of battle.

Entrance to parking area for sweeping view of battlefield.

First Line

To mark the site of the first line of defense of the American Army at the Battle of the Brandywine 11 September 1777.

Peace Garden

During the Battle of the Brandywine on September 11, 1777 the American Army used the walls of this Quaker burial ground in their first line of defense.  Both armies used this meetinghouse of Quaker pacifists as a hospital.  Behind the wall is the common grave of British and American soldiers killed in the battle. 

The Peace Garden at Birmingham surrounding this grave is a place to contemplate a world without war.  This site is dedicated to the imperative need to employ peaceful alternatives to deadly conflict.

Birmingham Friends’ Meeting House

Erected in 1763, used as a hospital by the British, September 11, 1777.

Birmingham Friends Meetinghouse, 1763, was the first position of the center of the American line before repositioning southeast 400 yards.

Common Grave

In memory of those who fell in the Battle of Brandywine Sept. 11, 1777.  Back of this in a common grave lay those who fell in this vicinity.

Birmingham Wall

Colonel Thomas Marshall’s 3rd Virginia occupied an orchard 100 paces north of this wall.  As the front of the American line, they expended 30 rounds each in 45 minutes.  They re-positioned here, maintaining heavy fire forcing the British battleline to veer around.

Headquarters of General Howe

after the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777.

No Tablet found.

General Lafayette

was wounded a short distance southeast of this point.  In this vicinity General Greene checked the British advance and covered the American retreat toward Chester at the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777.

No Tablet found.

Sandy Hollow

The hottest fighting in the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, was in this vicinity.

No Tablet found.

The Right Wing of Washington’s Army

had its main position in the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, upon the high ground just east of this point.  Here the Americans fought heroically for some time but were at last forced to retire toward Dilworthtown.

No Tablet found.

The Street Road

The British attack upon the American right wing under Sullivan at the Battle of Brandywine, September 11,1777, began here.

No tablet found.

Osborne’s Hill

From this ridge Howe directed the movements of the British Army at the Battle of Brandywine, September 11,1777.

Sconnelltown

Cornwallis’ division of the British Army halted here September 11, 1777 on its march to the battlefield of Brandywine.

Jefferis’ Ford

The British army, led by Howe and Cornwallis, crossed the Brandywine at this ford, September 11,1777.

Tablet shown is a replacement.

East branch of the Brandywine at the base of Jefferis’ Bridge.

Probable location of Trimble’s Ford on the east branch of the Brandywine.  The gravel bottom of a typical ford can be clearly seen.  The river has changed course over the centuries in this floodplain.

Barn where Wilmington merchants stored wine.  British troops marching by broke in and had a grand time.

Stabilized ruins of 1764 Martin’s Tavern.  It was from here that Squire Cheyney rode south on the Great Valley Road (Northbrook Rd) and spotted the British crossing Trimbles Ford.  He rode to Chads’ Ford to warn Washington.

Trimble’s Ford

September 11,1777, while on the march to the battlefield of Brandywine the British army under Howe and Cornwallis crossed the Brandywine at the ford just south of this point.