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appointed a major-general in the American army, more than a month before he had reached the age of twenty. Washington was expected shortly in Philadelphia, and the young general concluded to await his arrival before he went to head-quarters. The first introduction was at a dinner party, where several members of Congress were present. When they were about to separate, Washington took Lafayette aside, spoke to him very kindly, complimented him upon the noble spirit he had shown, and the sacrifices he had made, in favor of the American cause, and then told him that he should be pleased if he would make the quarters of the Commander-in-chief his home, establish himself there whenever he thought proper, and consider himself at all times as one of his family; adding, in a tone of pleasantry, that he could not promise him the luxuries of a court, or even the conveniences, which his former habits might have rendered essential to his comfort, but, since he had become an American soldier, he would doubtless contrive to accommodate himself to the character he had assumed, and submit with a good grace to the customs, manners, and privations of a republican army. If Lafayette was made happy by his success with Congress, his joy was redoubled by this flattering proof of friendship and regard on the part of the Commander-in-chief. His horses and equipage were immediately sent to camp; and ever afterwards, even when he had the command of a division, he kept up his intimacy at head-quarters, and enjoyed all the advantages of a member of the General's family. The day after the dinner, Washington inspected the fortifications in the Delaware River, and invited Lafayette to accompany him."*

*See Washington's Writings, Vol. V. p. 454; Appendix. Lafayette's appointment took place on the 31st of July.

For several days nothing was heard of the fleet, till it was seen again near the coast about sixteen leagues south of the Capes of Delaware. This was a proof, that it was really bound to the southward; and, as ten days passed without any other intelligence, the opinion began to prevail, that it was gone to Charleston. So thoroughly was this belief impressed upon Washington and his officers, that a council decided it to be expedient to march towards the Hudson, and either act against Burgoyne, or attack New York. This decision was approved by Congress; but, the very day on which the army was to march, an express arrived with intelligence, that the fleet was coming up the Chesapeake Bay, and had already ascended two hundred miles from its mouth. All uncertainty was now at an end. No one doubted the designs of Sir William Howe against Philadelphia, though, as Washington said, the route he had chosen was "a very strange one." The detachments were recalled from New Jersey, where Sullivan had employed them in an unsuccessful enterprise against Staten Island, and the whole army marched to Wilmington.

The reconnoitring parties soon reported the enemy to have landed below the Head of Elk. The American troops were posted at Red Clay Creek, a few miles beyond Wilmington, the pickets being advanced to Christiana Bridge. There was constant skirmishing between the light parties of the opposing armies, in which the Americans behaved with spirit, gained some advantages, and took about sixty prisoners. When General Howe had landed all his men, artillery, and baggage, his movements indicated an intention to outflank the American right; and Washington retired from his position at Red Clay Creek, crossed the Brandywine, and took possession of the high ground near

Chad's Ford. His right wing, so posted as to guard the fords above, was commanded by General Sullivan; and the Pennsylvania militia, under General Armstrong, were stationed on the left about two miles below.

At the same time the British advanced to Kennet Square, seven miles from Chad's Ford. At daybreak, on the morning of the 11th of September, Sir William Howe put his army in motion in two divisions; one, under Knyphausen taking the direct road to Chad's Ford; the other, led by Lord Cornwallis, moving along the Lancaster road, which ran for several miles nearly parallel with the Brandywine River. Sir William Howe was with this division. As soon as Knyphausen's advanced parties approached near Chad's Ford, they were attacked by General Maxwell with a body of light troops, and a very sharp rencounter ensued; but the enemy's columns pressed forward, and Maxwell was compelled to retire. From this time Knyphausen kept up a heavy fire of artillery, which was returned across the river; but he made no serious attempt to pass the ford. Parties went over and skirmished, and there was brisk firing at different points, without much execution on either side. It was the plan of the Hessian general to amuse the Americans in front, till Cornwallis should have time to gain their right flank and rear.

This design was early suspected by Washington, and he waited with extreme anxiety for intelligence from the patroles, who had been sent to watch the roads leading to the fords, which were all guarded as high up as the fork of the Brandywine, six or seven miles above Chad's Ford. At length, between eleven and twelve o'clock, a message came from General Sullivan, stating that a large body of the enemy had been discovered marching towards the upper fords. Washington ordered Sullivan to push over the river and

meet that division, while he crossed and attacked Knyphausen in front. Before this order could be executed, counter information was received. This contradiction and uncertainty caused the order to be suspended. A little after two o'clock, however, all doubt was removed. Having taken a wide circuit of seventeen miles and crossed two branches of the Brandywine above the fork, Cornwallis had gained the heights near Birmingham meeting-house, within two miles of Sullivan's right flank. Sullivan marched with the three divisions under his command, being his own, Stephen's, and Stirling's, and began to form his troops for action; but, before the arrangement could be completed, Cornwallis opened the attack with such impetuosity, that after a short resistance the right of the American line was broken, the remainder thrown into confusion, and the whole forced to a precipitate retreat. Some of them rallied, and took another stand, where they maintained a short and spirited conflict, till again driven by a greatly superior force from their ground.

The firing in this quarter was the signal for Knyphausen to cross the river, and assault the American intrenchments at Chad's Ford. He was met by General Wayne, who defended the post with his usual gallantry; but, at the head of a single division only, he was in no condition to withstand half the British army. General Greene with another division had removed to a central point between Chad's Ford and Sullivan's scene of action, where he could give support to either party as circumstances might require. Covering Sullivan's retreat, and seizing a pass about a mile from Dilworth, he checked the pursuit of the enemy, and sustained a warm engagement till dark. The firing then ceased. The British remained on the field of battle, and the Americans retreated in much disorder by different routes to

Chester, where they all arrived in the course of the night.

The numbers engaged in this action have never been accurately ascertained. Chief Justice Marshall estimates the British army, when it landed, at eighteen thousand men, healthy and well supplied with all the implements of war. He supposes the American army, including militia, amounted to fifteen thousand; but, from sickness and other causes, he thinks the effective strength on the day of battle was not more than eleven thousand. Sir William Howe reported his loss to be ninety killed, four hundred and eighty-eight wounded, and six missing. He stated that about three hundred Americans were killed, six hundred wounded, and four hundred taken. This could be only a conjectural estimate, since General Washington made no return of his loss to Congress; such a return being impracticable in the disconnected and moving condition of his army. The Marquis de Lafayette, while dismounted and endeavouring to rally the troops, was wounded in the leg, which caused him to retire from active service for two months.

The expediency of fighting this battle with a force so much inferior, and under many disadvantages, has been questioned by foreign writers. If the subject be viewed in a military light only, there may perhaps be just grounds for criticism. But it should be differently regarded. General Washington knew the expectation of the country and of Congress; and he was persuaded, that a defeat would be less injurious in its effects on the public mind, than the permitting of the enemy to march to Philadelphia without opposition. He doubtless hoped to make a better resistance; which he would have done, if he had not been deceived by contradictory intelligence in the time of battle, against

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