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Prior to Arriving at Pennypacker Mills....
September 11, 1777
During the Battle of Brandywine, the British suffered heavier losses than the Americans, but were able to drive the Americans from the field. This meant that the British were deemed the victor at the Battle of Brandywine.
American casualties included more than 200 killed, around 750 wounded, and 400 prisoners taken. The wounded were sent to Reading and Bethlehem. The Marquis de Lafayette was among the wounded that were sent to Bethlehem.
Image courtesy of the American Battlefield Trust.
Image Courtesy of Founder of the Day.
September 16, 1777
Washington engaged the British in the Battle of the Clouds at Warren Tavern. A storm soaked the ammunition and both armies separated.
September 20, 1777
The Battle of Paoli, sometime referred to as the Paoli Massacre, was one of the most infamous events of the American Revolution. While only 53 Americans perished in the nighttime British surprise attack, Patriot propagandists were able to vilify the tactics employed by the British, who cut men down with bayonets.
Image Courtesy of American Battle Field Trust.
September 23, 1777
A total of 2,000 soldiers and 700 wagons arrived in Bethlehem - too much for the small town of Bethlehem to accommodate. At the time, Bethlehem only had 80 houses with 600 residents.
September 23-26, 1777
Washington decided to move the army north and stayed at the home of Colonel Frederick Antes in Frederick Township.
War Comes to the Mills...
September 26, 1777
The army arrived at Pennypacker Mills on a cold, rough, windy day. This same day General Howe and the British army occupied Philadelphia, the wealthiest and most populous city in the colonies. With Philadelphia cut off, supplies such as clothing and shoes needed to come from the surrounding counties.
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Why here?
In 1777, the town that would become Schwenksville only had a few homes. The Skippack Pike led to Berks County where military supplies were stored. This side of the creek had the mill complex with a mill, miller's house, and other outbuildings. Up the hill was Samuel Pannebecker's property, consisting of a house, barn, carpenter's shop, flax building, and other outbuildings. With two creeks and hills, the property had great defenses.
A view of Pennypacker Mills from Haldeman Road, 1899.
Image courtesy of the Historical Marker Database.
September 28, 1777
The first part of the Battle of Saratoga on September 19th was an American success. It wasn't until September 28th that the news reached General Washington. On that day he issued a gill of rum per man and for 13 pieces of artillery to be fired. Reverend Muhlenberg over in Trappe recorded hearing 14 heavy cannons being fired over his way, and the troops in that area assumed they were under attack. It wasn't until later that they learned it was a celebratory salute. A council of war was held in the parlor of the house. Washington stated that with the arrival of General Smallwood with the Maryland militia, brought the army up to 8,000 continentals and 3,000 in militia. Washington asked whether to attack the enemy at once. Only 5 of his 17 generals were in favor of an attack. The decision was to move closer to the enemy and seek a favorable opportunity to strike a blow.
The Troops Depart...
September 29, 1777
The main body of the army moved down the Skippack Pike.
October 3, 1777
The Continental Army made Peter Wentz Farmstead in Worcester, PA their headquarters prior to the Battle of Germantown. Here, Washington and his generals finalized the decision to attack.
Image courtesy of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board.
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.
October 4, 1777
The Battle of Germantown was fought on October 4, 1777. After initial successes, smoke and confusion brought about retreat for the Continental Army. The order was given to head back to their old camp.
They were pursued for eight miles to Fort Washington. Of the 11,000 men Washington led into battle, 152 were killed and 521 were wounded. The official casualty report states "upwards of 400 were made prisoners." British casualties were 71 killed, 448 wounded and 14 missing.
Late on the evening of the 4th, lead elements of the army arrived back at Pennypacker Mills, a 23.5 mile journey.
"I had marched in 24 hours 45 miles and in that time fought 4 hours, during which we advanced so furiously through buckwheat fields that it was almost an unspeakable fatigue."
~ Lieutenant James McMichael of the Pennsylvania Line
October 5, 1777
The main body of the army arrived at the Mills on the 5th.
Many of the wounded were sent to Reading. However, the miller's house and the carpenter's shop, located beside the main house at Pennypacker Mills, were both used as hospitals.
General Edward Sherburne of Portsmouth died after having been shot at the Battle of Germantown. On the night of the 5th, Major Sherburne, in full uniform with epaulettes, was buried along the road. General Sullivan was in attendance and a military salute was fired over his grave.
Other soldiers were buried in the family grave yard across the road and in a mass burial along the road to Salfordville.
Governor Samuel Pennypacker placed grave markers on the burial sites at Pennypacker Mills.
Image courtesy of America Comes Alive.
A Special Visitor
"...we for our part might almost forgotten that we were in the presence of an enemy if we had not received a chance visitor. We were at table at head-quarters, - that is to say, in the mill which was comfortable enough, -one day, when a fine sporting dog, which was evidently lost, came to ask for some dinner. On its collar were the words 'General Howe.' It was the British commander’s dog. It was sent back under a flag of truce, and General Howe replied by a warm letter of thanks to this act of courtesy on the part of his enemy, our general."
~ The Chevalier de Pontgibaud
October 8, 1777
The army left in a cold and violent rain. It is uncertain why Washington ordered the move, however it could have been to find fresh supplies or to leave an area where many soldiers had been buried.
Samuel Pannebecker wrote a passage in his family bible about the army's stay on his property.
English translation:
“On the 26th day of September 1777, an army of 30,000 men encamped in Skippack Township, burned all the fences, carried away all the fodder, hay, oats and wheat, and took their departure the 8th day of October, 1777. Written for those who come after me, by Samuel Pannebecker."
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