1857

Schussele, Christian, 1824-1879

Engraving

Title: The Battle of Germantown

One engraving entitled, "The Battle of Germantown" dated 1857. Depicts American forces lying siege to Chew House during the Battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1777. Engraved by G. Illman from an original study by Christian Schuessele. Published by George Palmer Putnam.

GLC08878.0061

16 September 1777 - 16 October 1777

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Manuscript document

Title: [Account of the campaign of September and October 1777]

Later copy. Possibly created by William Knox, General Henry Knox's brother. Contains a report of the 20 September Battle of Paoli. Mentions Generals Knox, Green (possibly Nathanael Greene), and Alexander McDougall. In an entry for 28 September, records the receipt of favorable news from the north (referring to the Battle of Freeman's Farm). Mentions Generals John Burgoyne (British), Horatio Gates, and Benedict Arnold. An entry for 30 September states, "Very cold nights, having no blankets." Gives an account of the 4 October Battle of Germantown, reporting that General Francis Nash was…

GLC02437.00654

6 October 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Written from Artillery Park Camp, 25 miles from Philadelphia. Notes that he would have written more details earlier, but "the success of the enterprise depended upon secrecy...." Gives an account of the Battle of Germantown (4 October 1777), in which "a fog which was but moderate at first became so thick from the Continental firing of cannon... that it absolutely became impossible to see..." Despite the conditions, reports, "Our troops are in prodigious spirits at being able to drive nearly the whole collective force of the enemy so far-" Relates that his brother, William Knox, "behaved…

GLC02437.00655

12 October 1777

Stewart, Walter, 1756-1796

Letter

Title: to Horatio Gates

Later copy. Copied 23 May 1860 for Joseph Willard, Esq., by George [H.?] Moore. Stewart, aide-de-camp to General Gates, offers an account of the Battle of Germantown. Mentions Generals Anthony Wayne, John Sullivan, Nathanael Greene, Edward Stevens, and Alexander McDougall. Writes, "...everything appeared in our favour when the unfortunate retreat took place, which cannot yet be accounted for; it is left on General Stevens, who certainly gave the Orders to the left wing." Reports that Stevens has been suspended, and a court of inquiry, with Lord Stirling (William Alexander) presiding, is…

GLC02437.00657

27 October 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Landon Carter

Signed twice by Washington. Discusses his campaign, the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Red Bank and Saratoga, and the danger of being captured. "at the same time that I assure you, that, It is not my wish to avoid any danger which duty requires me to encounter I can as confidently add, that it is not my intention to run unnecessary risques." On the Battle of Germantown: "After driving the Enemy from their Incampment - possessing their ground - and being, as we thought, upon the point of grasping victory, it was snatched from us....a very heavy atmostphere [sic], aided by the smoke of…

GLC07115.01

3 March 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Certification regarding John Dewman's injuries]

Knox certifies that Captain John [Dewman] received a wound in the Battle of Germantown, 4 October 1777. Attests that the wound has incapacitated Dewman, causing dizziness, general sickness, and at times insanity.

GLC02437.02969

October 23, 1777

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by General Parsons to Mumford as a merchant in Groton, Connecticut. Says he has doubtlessly heard of the Convention between General Gates and General Burgoyne. The Convention delineated the terms of surrender for General Burgoyne. Mentions the action at the Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777. Explains that due to fog, the battle with General William Howe ended prematurely. Says the Americans were close to victory before the fog settled on the field. Mentions casualties of generals. Says General Clinton embarked before he could attack. Says his numbers are few and now fears an…

GLC00496.075.04

1763-1791

Macaulay, Catharine, 1731-1791

Header Record

Title: Correspondence of Catharine Macaulay [Decimalized .01- .63]

Collection of correspondence of Catharine Macaulay Graham with various people from England, Scotland, France, and America, including a folder of transcripts of letters not included in this collection. Materials in this collection consist of retained drafts, letters received, drafts written on other letters, and some occasional pieces. According to a later note in GLC 1795, these letters were returned by her second husband William Graham to daughter Catharine Sophia Macaulay Gregorie. Some letters are in French. A full inventory is available, and transcripts of some letters are also…

GLC01794

3 December 1777

Parker, W., fl. 1777

Newspaper

Title: General advertiser and morning intelligencer. [No. 337 (December 3, 1777)]

Reprints the "whole of the London Gazette Extraordinary," of 2 December 1777 which includes a letter of British General William Howe to Lord George Germain dated 10 October 1777 at Germantown concerning events in the Revolutionary War. Includes a list of wounded and killed at the Battle of Brandywine, 11 September 1777 and Germantown, 4 October 1777. Also prints extracts of letters from Sir Henry Clinton to William Howe. Stamped with half-penny tax on first page lower right corner.

GLC08717

October 11, 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to John Page, Williamsburg

Describes the attack at Germantown and the loss of victory due to a retreat caused by fog. He closes by mentioning that the troops were in good spirits. The letter mentions the Battle of Germantown and the various maneuvers. John Page is from Williamsburg.

GLC00496.097

1784/03/12

Hills, John, fl. 1771-1796

Print

Title: Sketch of the Surprise of Germantown, October 4th, 1777...

Nebenzahl, Atlas map 28; Nebenzahl, Battle Plans of the American Revolution, 129; Clemonts catalog 15; Snyder fig. 52.

GLC04314

20 October 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to John Hancock

Knox writes to Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts. Informs Hancock that Captain [Dewman?] was injured in the Battle of Germantown and is unfit for further service. Uses [Dewman's] case to encourage Hancock's support of a state law which would pay for the provision of wounded officers. Docketed by Samuel Shaw.

GLC02437.10052

5 November 1777

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Laurens as president of the Continental Congress; signed once and initialed twice by Laurens. Retained copy encloses extracts of Congress and a postscript reporting the passing of those resolutions. The extracts concern recovery and protection of the Hudson (North) River. Draft of letter to Richard Caswell on verso regarding the appropriation of funds for a memorial for Brigadier General Nash, who died at Germantown.

GLC04803

1776-1780

Lincoln, Rufus, 1751-1838

Diary

Title: Revolutionary War Officer's Journal

Early battles, including the battles of Brooklyn, Long Island, White Plains, The Crossing of the Delaware, Brandywine, Gerrmantown, Fort Ticonderoga, Saratoga, etc. Entries from 6/28//1776 to 10/17/1777 (45 pages) with several charts at the end (33 pages), with entries from 1776 to Lincoln's Discharge in 1783. This was written by Lincoln after the war, but contains a very significant and unusually complete wartime record.

GLC08007

16 September 1777-16 October 1777

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph document

Title: Knox's army diary [incomplete]

Mostly deals with movements of the army around Philadelphia in September and October 1777, around the time of the Battle of Germantown. On September 19 says "Intelligence recd. of the enemys pushing for Philadelphia the army cross'd the Schylkill." On 20 September, makes reference to General Anthony Wayne being attacked at night and states that General William Smallwood joined Wayne. Makes reference to George Washington riding reconnaissance with a group of officers on 30 September. Makes reference to moving toward Germantown on 3 and 4 October and describes the battle there. Makes…

GLC02437.08417