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Battle of Brandywine order of battle

At the Battle of Brandywine of September 11, 1777, an American army led by General George Washington fought a British-Hessian army commanded by General William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe. Washington drew up his troops in a defensive position behind Brandywine Creek. Howe sent Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen's 5,000 troops to demonstrate against the American front at Chadd's Ford. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis took 10,000 troops on a wide flank march that crossed the creek and got in the rear of the American right wing under Major General John Sullivan. The Americans changed front but Howe's attack broke through.

As Howe's wing made progress, Knyphausen converted his feint into a frontal attack on the American center. Washington's army was driven to the rear in disarray, but was saved from rout by Major General Nathanael Greene's rear guard action. Washington's army retreated to Chester, Pennsylvania while Howe occupied Wilmington, Delaware. The engagement took place in Chadds Ford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

British Army order of battle

General Sir William Howe (18,000) <br>Quartermaster General: Brigadier General Sir William Erskine, 1st Baronet

Note: Each brigade had two or four 3-pound or 4-pound cannons attached.

Left Wing

Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis

  • Unbrigaded:
  • 16th Light Dragoons (200)
  • Hessian and Anspach Jägers: Lieutenant Colonel Ludwig von Wurmb (500)
  • Mounted Jäger company, Captain Richard Lorey (100)
  • Artillery: 3rd Brigade
  • Four 12-pound cannons & six 6-pound cannons
  • Light Infantry: (1,300)
  • 1st Light Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Abercromby of Airthrey
  • Light companies of (from left to right in formation) 5th, 15th, 22nd, 27th, 33rd, 38th, 42nd, 35th, 28th, 23rd, 17th, 10th, and 4th Regiments.
  • 2nd Light Infantry Battalion, Major John Maitland
  • Light companies of (from left to right in formation) 37th, 43rd, 45th, 49th, 55th, 63rd, 71st, 64th, 57th, 52nd, 46th, 44th, and 40th Regiments.
  • Grenadiers: (1,400)
  • 1st Grenadier Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel William Medows
  • Grenadier companies of (from left to right in formation) 5th, 15th, 22nd, 27th, 33rd, 37th, 40th, 38th, 35th, 28th, 23rd, 17th, 10th, and 4th Regiments
  • 2nd Grenadier Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Monckton
  • Grenadier companies of (from left to right in formation) 43rd, 49th, 52nd, 57th, 64th, 71st, 63rd, 55th, Marines, 46th, 44th, and 42nd Regiments

Right Wing

Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen

  • Unbrigaded:
  • Queen's Rangers, Captain James Weymss (300)
  • Rifle Corps, Captain Patrick Ferguson (90)
  • 16th Light Dragoons (200)
  • 71st Foot (1,200)
  • 1st and 3rd battalions guarding the baggage train.
  • 2nd battalion (350)
  • Artillery: 1st and 2nd Brigades
  • Six 12-pound cannons & four howitzers
  • Hessian Brigade: Major General Johann Daniel Stirn (2,000)
  • Erbprinz Infantry Regiment
  • Donop Infantry Regiment
  • Mirbach Infantry Regiment

American Army order of battle

General and Commander in Chief George Washington (12,000 regulars, 3,000 militia)

Main Body

Sullivan's Wing

Notes

Footnotes
Citations

References

External links