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HISTORY OF THE BATTLE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ffliSKS iU. 
 
 , 1778. 
 
 BY W. W. H. DAVIS, A. M. 
 
 PRICK 35 CENTS* 
 
 The proceeds of sale to be applied to the erection of a Monument 
 upon the field of battle. 
 
 PRINTED AT THE DEMOCRAT OFFICE, 
 
 DOYLESTOWN, PA. 
 
 18G0. 
 
BATTLE OF THE CROOKED BILLET 
 
 The Winter of 1777 and '78, and the following Spring, were among 
 the most trying periods in our revolutionary struggle. The preceding 
 campaign in the Middle States, had been disastrous in the extreme to 
 the American arms. Defeated at Brandywine, forced to retreat at 
 Gcrmaatown, Fort Mifflin destroyed, and Philadelphia occupied by 
 the victorious British army, military operations for the season closed 
 with but little hope for the success of the patriot cause. When Win- 
 ter set in, Washington, with his shattered battalions, marched up the 
 banks of the Schuylkill and sought shelter upon the bleak hills around 
 the Valley Forge. Here this incomparable chieftain remained for 
 several months, contending against an enemy more inexorable than 
 British bayonet or Hessian sabre, watching General Howe and his 
 troops in their comfortable quarters. 
 
 Washington found it necessary to have the country between the 
 Schuylkill and Delaware rivers, and extending some thirty miles back 
 from the British lines, well patrolled, to prevent supplies reaching the 
 enemy in Philadelphia, and to break up their marauding and foraging 
 excursions into the interior. Por this purpose a considerable body of 
 militia was kept actively employed during the Winter and Spring 
 under a reliable officer. Early in January, 1778, he appointed to this 
 command John Lacey, who had lately been commissioned a Brigadier 
 General by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. . General 
 Lacey was a native of Buckingham township, Bucks county, in this 
 State, and at this period was but twenty-two years of age. He had 
 served during the campaign of 1770 on the Canada frontier under Wayne, 
 in whose regiment he held a Captain's commission ; whence he re- 
 turned home and resigned. During the following year he was in active 
 service as Colonel of a Bucks county regiment, and with which he 
 participated in the battle of Germantown, and the action at the Gulf 
 Mills. He had gained such high reputation for skill and courage, that 
 Washington now called him to this command, one of the most respou- 
 yiblo that can devolve upon an officer. 
 
 (jcncral Lacey immediately entered upon the discharge of hit- uctv' 
 
4 BATTLE OF THE CUOOKED BILLET. 
 
 duties. Soon after he assumed command of his brigade the Com- 
 raandcr-in-Chief, from his winter quarters, addressed him the follow- 
 ing letter, vyhich embodies, substantially, his instructions : 
 
 Head-Quarters, Yalley Forge, Jan. 23, 1778. 
 
 Sir, — I received your favor dated the 21st inst. I must request 
 that you will exert yourself to fulfil the intention of keeping a body 
 of troops in the country where you are posted. Protecting the inhab- 
 itants is one of the ends designed, and preventing supplies and inter- 
 course with the enemy and city is the other. This, perhaps, with the 
 utmost vigilance cannot be totally elTected ; but I must entreat you to 
 take every step that may render it possible. As to the reduction of 
 your numbers, I wish you to make timely application to the President 
 of the State, to keep up the necessary force under your command. 
 
 I am well informed that many persons, under the pretence of fur- 
 m^hing the inhabitants of Germantown, and near the enemy's lines, 
 afford immense supplies to the Philadelphia market — a conduct highly 
 prejudicial to us, and contrary to every order. It is therefore become 
 proper to make an example of some guilty one, that the rest may 
 expect a like fate, should they persist. This I am determined to put 
 into execution ; and request you when a suitable object falls into your 
 hands, that you will send him here with a witness ; or let me know 
 his name, when you shall have power to try, and (if proved guilty) ta 
 execute. This you will be pleased to make known to the people, that 
 they may again have warning. Your want of whiskey I cannot remedy 
 — we are in the same situation here, and nothing effectual can be done 
 until the arrival of the Committee of Congress, whom we expect every 
 day. I am, sir, 
 
 Your most humble servant, 
 (Signed,) GEO. WASHINGTON. 
 
 Upon taking the field he established his Head-Quarters at Graeme 
 Park, on the County line, near where that road crosses the Doylestown 
 and Willow Grove turnpike, and fixed his depot of provisions at 
 Doylestown, where he stationed a small guard for their protection. 
 Considering the former situation too much exposed, he soon afterward 
 changed his quarters to Pkodman's Farm, in Warwick township, where 
 he continued them until about the first of March, when he moved down 
 the York Iload to the Crooked Billet, where he encamped. At this 
 time his whole force was but little over three hundred men, made up 
 entirely of raw militia, many of whom where badly armed and equip- 
 ped. From this place he marched to Whitemarsh, where he encamped 
 on the 11th of March. He remained only a few days in camp here, 
 when he again moved up toward the Neshaminy, in order to protect 
 the mills along that stream, many of which were grinding grain for 
 the army. Some of them had a large stock of grain and flour on hand, 
 
BATTLE OF THE CROOKED lULLET. •") 
 
 and it was feared tlic enemy might make a sudden foray and destroy 
 them. 
 
 On the 10th of March, be placed Lieutenant Eobert Vanhorn, of 
 Southampton township, Bucks county, in command of a troop of horse, 
 with the following instructions for bis guidance : 
 
 Camp, March IDth, 1778. 
 
 Sir : — You are to proceed with your troop toward the enemy's lines 
 — to keep on the roads leading to Bristol, to Smitbfield, the York and 
 the Whitemarsh roads. You will keep constant patrols on these roads, 
 by night and day ; and if the enemy should come out, you will im- 
 mediately send me notice. If your parties should meet with any 
 people going to market, or any persons whatever going to the city, and 
 they endeavor to make their escape, you will order your men to fire 
 upon the villains. You will leave such on the roads, their bodies and 
 their marketing lying together. This I wish you to execute on tho 
 first offenders you meet, that they may be a warning to others. You 
 are to let no person whatever go to the city. You are to stay on the 
 lines until further orders. You will send me word of your movements, 
 and what information you can get from the enemy, every day, by one 
 of the troop. I am, sir, 
 
 Your most obdt., 
 (Signed,) J. LACEY. 
 
 To Mr. Vanhorn, 
 
 Commanding the Light-Horse. 
 
 During this season General Lacey and his small party were very 
 active in scouring the country for many miles around Philadelphia. 
 His force at some times was so much reduced that he was obliged to 
 keep them in one body, and head them himself, in expeditions 
 against the enemy. He was closely watched by the British and To- 
 ries, and, as the spring opened, they were more active than ever in 
 their exertions to capture him. In order to avoid surprise, he fre- 
 quently changed his camp, and would not remain in some localities 
 more than two or three days. By being thus constantly on his guard, 
 he escaped the parties of the enemy who were sent out to surprise him. 
 
 By the end of March, the intercourse with the enemy in Philadel- 
 phia had reached such a height, and become so injurious to the cause 
 of the colonies, that it was held in serious consideration to depopulate 
 the whole country between the Delaware and the Schuylkill rivers, for 
 fifteen miles around the city, by compelling the inhabitants, by force, 
 to remove back beyond that distance. A conference was held on this 
 subject, at the Spring House, on the 23d instant, between (Jenerals 
 Mcintosh and Lacey, and several field-officers of the army. They 
 agreed upon the bcnclit the cause of independence would derive from 
 tho measure, and General Mcintosh was authorized to lay the plan 
 
'» IJATTLB 0¥ THE CU001<.E1) BlLLEl'. 
 
 before (General Wasliingtou, on his rctura to bead qututoif. Goncrai 
 Luccy also adiircssod Liiui on the same subject, on the 2l)th, in which 
 communication appears the following paragraph, which exhibits the 
 bad state of things : 
 
 " Every kind of villainy is carried on by the people near the ene- 
 my's Hues; and, from their general conduct, I am induced to believe 
 but fev7 real friends to America are left within ten miles of Philadel- 
 phia. Those who have appeared the least active, have either been 
 made prisoners by the enemy, or compelled to fly to some other part 
 of the country for safety. I have a number of notorious offenders now 
 confined, who were taken by my parties, going to market." 
 
 The battle of the Crooked IJillct, now Ilatborough, Montgomery 
 county, Pennsylvania, was fought on the first day of May, 1778. 
 (Joneral Lacy had his head-quarters at this place most of the time from 
 the psriod when he returned with his command from Whitemarsh, 
 about the middle of March, to the day of the action. He was actively 
 engaged, meanwhile, in scouring the country in pursuit of parties of 
 refugees and British troops, and in endeavoring to cut off all intercourse 
 with the city. 
 
 The American troops were encamped in or near a large wood at the 
 upper end of tlie Crooked Billet, on the farm of Samuel Irvine, and 
 now owned by William K. G Oentncr. In his front the wood extended 
 some three or four hundred yards along the York road, and a greater 
 distance to the east, and contained about twenty-five acres. In his 
 rear there was an open, cultivated, country, for more than a half mile, 
 to the county line, with a small body of timber, about midway to that 
 road. General Lacey was quartered in a stone house, about three 
 hundred yards to the right and rear of his encampment, on the oppo- 
 site side ef the York road. It was then owned by a man named Gil- 
 bert, but now belongs to John M. Hogeland. There is a difference 
 of opinion as to the house in which Lacey was (juartered ; some con- 
 tending it was that of the late Asa Comly, some distance higher up 
 the road, and then owned by John Tompkins. But from the most 
 reliable information we have been able to obtain, as well as the situa- 
 tion of the premises, we feel confident he was quartered in the house 
 of Mr. Hogeland. The wood in front of the encampment until it was 
 lately cut down, showed traces of spoliation by the troops, in order to 
 obtain fuel; the new growth of trees, in the phce of those cut down, 
 being much smaller than in other parts of the wood. Lacey was 
 joined the evening before the attack by a body of militia, without arrtis, 
 who fared badly the next day. The exact number of the Americana 
 has never been rightly aiccrtuiucd, but is iiuppoatd not to have exceed- 
 
BATTliE or THE CROOKETJ "BILLET. ( 
 
 ed four hundrctl in all, who wcro raw militio. ITc took the necessary 
 moasurfts to prevent a surprise, and if his orders had been faithfully 
 C4xrried out by those upon whom they devolved, ho would not have 
 been found by tho enemy unprepared to meet them. The evening 
 before he gave orders for the patrols, under two commissioned oiBcers, 
 of whom Lieutenant Neilson was one, to leave the camp between two 
 and three o'clock the next morning, scour the country toward the ene- 
 my's lines, and report to him the first intimation of their approach. 
 They did not leave camp, however, until near daylight, and when they 
 met the enemy neglected to give the alarm. Under these circum- 
 stances the Americans were taken entirely, by surprise. 
 
 The commander-in-chief of the British array had for some time 
 deemed it of importance to attack and disperse the force of Oeneral 
 Laeey, which had, during the winter and spring, done them much harm, 
 by stopping the communication between the city and country, and 
 thus prevented the people carrying their produce to market. Major 
 Simcoe, the commander of the " Queen's Rangers," an active refugee 
 corps, which had made many incursions into the surrounding countryj 
 had it in contemplation to surprise Lacey's camp. He laid his plans 
 before Colonel Balfour, and asked his co-operation. Spies were im- 
 mediately sent into Lacey's neighborhood, and all his movements 
 closely watched ; every information which they obtained being imme- 
 diately communicated to these British officers. A few days after 
 their first interview, Balfour informed Simcoe that Greneral Lacey was 
 to be at the Billet, with his corps, on the first day of May, and fur- 
 nished him such other information as would be of service to him, 
 Simcoe laid this intelligence before Cleneral Howe, who approved his 
 plans and gave him permission to attack the Americans ; and, from 
 his superior knowledge of the country and the roads, upon him devolved 
 the duty of making the necessary arrangements to insure success. His 
 plan was, to march with the Queen's Rangers and attack Lacey on 
 the left and rear, and thus cut off his communication with the upper 
 country ; while another body of British troops should ambuscade them- 
 selves in a wood on the road from the Billet to the Horsham meet- 
 ing-house, which runs in the direction of the Valley Forge. It was 
 supposed, if Lacey should be defeated, he would march toward the 
 main army, and that this ambuscade placed in the wood for that pur- 
 pose, would effectually cut off his retreat. Simcoe was to begin the 
 attack, and when the firing of the Rangers should be heard in the 
 rear another body was to move up in front, thus placing the Ameri- 
 cans between two fires ; and, acting in concert, it was supposed they 
 
8 IJATTLE or TIJE CROOKED BILLET. 
 
 would be able to accomplish their object without much difSeulty. In 
 aiilition to the, Queen's Kangers, under Simeoc, there was selected for 
 this enterprise a largo detachment of light infantry and cavalry, tho 
 whole under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Abcrcrombie. Sparo 
 horses were led, in order to mount the infantry, if necessary, for greater 
 expedition. Having made all the preliminary arrangements, the morn- 
 ing of the first day of May was fixed upon as the time for attack, and 
 the troops ordered to hold themselves in readiness. 
 
 The British troops left Philadelphia the afternoon before, under the 
 direction of guides who were well acquainted with the country. They 
 marched out the Second Street road, and up the Middle road through 
 the Fox Chase to the village of Huntingdon, where the force separated. 
 The main body, composed of the light infantry and most of the cavalry, 
 commanded by Abcrcrombie in person, struck across to the York road, 
 and so on up to Horsham, in order to form the proposed ambuscade, 
 and also attack Lacey in front. Simcoe continued his march up the 
 Middle road, occasionally making a detour to avoid such places as 
 Laccy's men might chance to be at, thus prolonging the distance he 
 had to march. He turned to the left into the Byberry road, along 
 which he marched to what is now known as Lloyd's Corner, when ho 
 again changed his direction, by turning into the road which runs from 
 the Willow Grove to the county line. At the first cross-roads, where 
 Archibald Banes used to live, he again turned to the left, and came 
 out into the county line a short distance above the eight-square school- 
 house. Just above this point he struck across the fields, on the farm 
 of Isaac Boileau, the nearest way to the Billet. The instructions 
 to Captain Kerr's division, which marched with Major Simcoe, 
 were to seise and barricade Lacey's quarters, and hold them as a ral- 
 lying point, in case of any discomfiture. They were so exceedingly anx- 
 ious to capture Lacey, that they placed spies in the apple-trees around 
 his quarters to watch his movements ; but, fortunately, he escaped 
 without being discovered. Simcoe, during the night, fell in with Cap- 
 tain Thomas's company of armed refugees, which he would certainly 
 have mistaken for Americans, and attacked them, had he not received 
 information about twilight that they were in the neighborhood. But 
 for this knowledge, a serious episode to the British might have hap- 
 pened. Both parties marched as rapidly as possible in order to reach 
 their destination while under cover of darkness, and commence the 
 attack at or near the same time. Simcoe marched with such caution 
 that he escaped all Laccy's patrols ; but daylight appeared when he 
 was some distance from the American camp. The ofliccr who com- 
 
batTlS op the crooked billet. 9 
 
 toanded tbc party ia ambush met one of the patrols within two miles 
 of the American camp, who, when fired upon, fled in a contrary direc- 
 tion. The patrol, which left camp about daylight, was divided into 
 three parts ; that under Lieutenant Neilson took the right hand road 
 from the Billet, leading to Horsham, and on which the ambush was 
 placed. After proceeding about a mile and a half, they first saw the 
 'ememy's light-horse, when they took post in a wood to fire upon them 
 when they should come within reach. Soon they saw a party of foot 
 following, when Lieutenant Neilson ordered a soldier, named John 
 ■Morrow, to return to camp and give the alarm. He did so, and when 
 he arrived there he found the men already paraded behind the camp, 
 and fell into the ranks with them j but he was too late to save them 
 from surprise. A second scout, which went in another direction, was 
 Kjommawded by Ensign Laughlin. They marched about two miles 
 without discovering any thing of the enemy ; when they returned and 
 were close to the camp, when they first heard the firing. Abercrom- 
 1)16, fearing he should not be in time to support Simcoe, detached the 
 ■cavalry and mounted infantry to the place of ambuscade, in advance, 
 and with the main body marched up the York road to attack the 
 Americans in front. From the manner in which Lacey was surrounded, 
 Abercrombie mnst have detached a party up the Easton road, to turn 
 bis right flank and fall upon his rear, in concert with the Queen's 
 llangers. They probably came into the York road where the county 
 line crosees it, and were the cavalry which is mentioned as having at- 
 tacked him on the left flank, soon after he commenced his retreat. He 
 mentions, in his dispatch to General Armstrong, that one party of the 
 •enemy passed the cross-roads in his rear before his scoiit got there. 
 
 Tfce first intimation Cleneral Lacey had of the approach of the ene- 
 my was at daylight in the morning, when thev were within about 
 two hundred yards of bis camp. He was in bed, and had barely time 
 to dress, mount his horse and join his men, before they were within 
 musket shot of his quarters. He discovered the enemy in front and 
 rear near the same time, who opened a fire upon him, some being shel- 
 tered behind fences and in the neighboring houses. His situation was 
 a critical one, and as there was no time left for speculation as to the 
 course he should pursue, he was obliged to act upon the emergency of 
 the occasion. Seeing himself almost surrounded, and the enemy's 
 force much superior to his own, he deemed it injudicious to make a 
 stand against them, and therefore ordered a retreat. He moved in 
 columns to the left, in the direction of a wood, his wagons following in 
 his rear, across open fields and in full view of the enemy, who were 
 
10 BATTLE OF THE ("ROOKED BILLET. 
 
 in pursuit. He relates that when he emerged into the open Odds, an J 
 a large body of the enemy's horse appeared in front, his men gave hira 
 an anxious look, as much as to ask him what they should do. lie 
 told them to " deliver their fire and push on." After marching a 
 short distance, his flanking parties first began to exchange shots with 
 the enemy, which grew warmer and warmer as they advanced, and soon 
 he was hotly engaged. He moved on across the fields, in tolerable 
 order until he reached the wood, where he was obliged to make a 
 stand to open his way, as by this time the various parties of the enemy 
 had come up, and now attacked him on all sides. In his report of the 
 action to Washington, he says : " I kept moving on till I made the 
 wootl, when a party of both horse and foot came up the By berry road, 
 and attacked my right flank — the party from the Billet fell upon my 
 rear — the horse from the rear of my camp came upon my loft flank, 
 and a body of horse appeared directly in front." The enemy now be- 
 gan to concentrate all their force upon the wood, and being still much 
 exposed and having suffered considerable loss, (leueral Lacey thought 
 it would be safer to move on, which he did with the loss of all his 
 baggage, which fell into the enemy's hands. It was Simcoe with his 
 rangers and cavalry who appeared on Lacey's right flank and front, 
 about the time he reached the wood. When ho had quitted the main 
 road and struck across the fields, to march directly to the Billet, and 
 was informing the officers of his plan of attack, he heard firing in 
 the direction of Abercrombie's detachment, and exclaimed, " The dra- 
 goons have discovered us," and marched forward at a rapid pace to join 
 in the action. lie came up on the right flank of the retreating Ame- 
 ricans, as has been already mcatioued, intercepting in his march small 
 parties of the flying militiamen, who were mostly killed. While ho 
 pushed on for the main body of tlie Americans, he dispatched thirty 
 dragoons to intercept the baggage of General Lacey, which they suc- 
 ceeded in doing, as it was crossing the fields. As the Americans were 
 inarching through the wood Major Simcoe endeavored, by a ruse de 
 f/ucrre., to induce them to lay down their arms. He rode up within 
 hailing distance, and commanded them to surrender. As they did not 
 atop, he next gave the commands, in a loud tone, " make ready" — 
 "present" — "fire" — hoping to deceive them into the belief that he 
 had a large body of troops with him. In this he was disappointed ; 
 they moved on as before, and paid no other attention to him than to 
 bow their heads at the word — "fire." They continued to retreat, 
 skirmishing as they marched, for nearly two miles, the British hang- 
 ing upon their flanks and rear, and now and then a man fulling — 
 
BATTLE OF THE CROOKED BILLET. 11 
 
 killed or wounJed. Tbcy passed across the farm of Thomas Craven, 
 now owned by Mr. Finney, thence through what is now the village of 
 Johnsville, in Warminster township, ]]ucks county, and so on nearly 
 to Hart's GDrner, on the J]ristol road, where they suddenly turned to 
 the left into a wood, and thus escaped the pursuit. Thence they struck 
 across the country to the York road, which they came into just below 
 the Cross Iloads, now Hartsville, and moved down toward the Billet, 
 hoping to find the ensmy, in the hour of victory, off their guard and 
 thus be able to gain some advantage over them. They found, how- 
 ever, upon their arrival at the scene of the late action that they had 
 retired, carrying with them most of their killed and wounded. The 
 British followed the retreating Americans until they made the sudden 
 turn to the left, when they gave up the pursuit and returned to the 
 field to gather up the spoils and prepare to return to the city. 
 
 The enemy behaved in the most inhuman manner to the wounded 
 Americans they found lying on the field, many of whom they mangled 
 shockingly and burnt in buckwheat straw. The latter circumstance, 
 for the sake of humanity and the credit of the English name, we would 
 fain disbelieve, but there is such undoubted evidence to sustain it, that 
 we are fully convinced of its truth. Oa the farm of Thomas Craven, 
 in a field near the county line, was a larg3 heap of buckwheat straw, 
 (larret Kroeson deceased, who then lived in the neighborhood, says a 
 skirmishing party of Americans, much fatigued, crept into this straw 
 about sunrise in the morning, when a Tory who knew their secret rest- 
 ing place, informed the British. They set fire to the straw while the 
 Americans were asleep, burnt some to death on the spot, and others 
 were so badly burned that they died in a short time. They also set fire 
 to the wounded, many of whom had dragged themselves to the straw 
 for shelter, while they were yet alive, and caused them to expire in the 
 most excruciating agony. We have abundant proof to sustain this 
 statement, (leneral Lacey, in his letter to Greneral Armstrong, of the 
 date of the 7th of May, speaks of this circumstance in the following 
 manner : " Many of the unfortunate who fell into the merciless hands 
 of the British, were more cruelly and inhumanly butchered. Home 
 were set on fire with buckwheat straw, and others had their clothes 
 burnt on their backs. Some of the surviving sufi:'erers say they saw 
 the enemy set fire to the wounded while yet alive, who struggled to put 
 it out but were too weak, and expired under this torture. I saw those 
 lying in the buckwheat straw — they made a most melancholy appear- 
 ance. Others I saw, who, after being wounded with a ball, had re- 
 ceived near a dozen wounds with cutlasses and bayonets. I can find 
 
12 15ATTLE OF THE CROOKED BILLET. 
 
 as many witnesses to the proof of these cruelties as there were people 
 on the spot, and that was no small number who came as spectators." 
 The loss of the Americans was twenty-six killed, and eight or ten 
 wounded, most of whom fell while marching across the open fields j. 
 several prisoners were taken, but it is not known how many. The 
 loss of the British could never be ascertained, as they carried the killed 
 and wounded with them to the city — it must, however, have been con- 
 siderable. One field officer is supposed to have fallen, and another 
 ofl&cer was severely wounded in the knee, near the house of Thomas 
 Craven, into which ho was carried. Major Simcoe admits that some 
 of his rangers were wounded, as was also the horse of his orderly hus- 
 sar. He likewise mentions that the shoe-buckles of one Captain 
 McGill probably saved the life of that officer. General Lacey states 
 that he captured two of their horses, and that five were left dead on 
 the field. Of the Americans, two officers of the patrols were killed 
 and also a Captain Downey, who was horribly mangled, and whose 
 obituary notice we insert. The baggage captured from the Americans 
 was taken to Philadelphia and sold, and the proceeds divided among 
 the men of the expedition. It yielded one dollar to each man. 
 
 The foUowiag obituary notice of Captain Downey appeared in the 
 Pennsylvania Packet, in May, 1778 : 
 
 *' Plumstead, Bucks Count!/, May 4th, 1778. 
 
 " Among the slain near the Crooked Billet, on Friday the first in- 
 stant, fell the gallant Captain Jno. Downey, late school master in Phi- 
 ladelphia, whose worth entitles him to a place in the annals of America. 
 He took an active and early part in our struggle for liberty. He went, 
 us a volunteer to Jersey last winter a year, where he behaved gallant- 
 ly in the battles of Trenton and Princeton. He being chosen captain 
 of a company of Philadelphia militia, served his tour of duty, two 
 months last summer at Billing^port, when, on account of his superior 
 knowledge of mathematics, the Executive Council employed him to 
 make a military survey of the river Delaware, which he performed with 
 great exactness. Since which time he has performed many very im- 
 portant services to bis country, a love to which prompted him to attempt 
 any thing which promised its welfare. He lately acted as an assistant 
 commissary, and in this capacity was with our brave militia when at- 
 tacked last Friday. From his known readiness to fight and bleed for 
 his country, it is more than probable when the attack began he attempted 
 to join his countrymen when he was shot through the shoulder, and 
 that he lay in his blood until the enemy returned, when they dis- 
 patched him in a cruel manner, for his body was found with one of his 
 hands almost cut oft', his head slashed in several places, his scull cut 
 through, his brains coming out of his nose and scattered all around. 
 He was an enlightened patriot, an affectionate friend, a gallant soldier, 
 u fund husband and an indulgent parent. He had no inheritance to 
 
BATTLE OF THE CROOKED BILLET. 1'^ 
 
 leave, as his little property was left in Philadelphia ; but he has left 
 a sorrowful widow, and five helpless children, in very indigent circum- 
 stances. They are worthy the notice of the charitable." 
 
 The dead were collected and buried in one grave, near where they 
 fell, in a field along the county line, and a short distance above Cra- 
 ven's Corner. The wounded were carried to the house of Thomas 
 Craven, near bv, where they were well taken care of, and remained 
 until they recovered, or were able to be removed to their own homes. 
 After General Laccy had paid the last sad rites of humanity to the 
 dead, and had his wounded made comfortable, he took up the line of 
 march for the Cross-Roads, now Hartsville, where he encamped on the 
 north bank of the Nesharainy creek, which he considered a very safe 
 position, and of easy defence. 
 
 The following incidents, connected with the battle of the Crooked 
 Billet, were related to us, either by those who had lived contempora- 
 neously with that event, or by others who received them from that 
 source, and therefore may be relied upon as correct. 
 
 When the British returned from the pursuit, they rode up to several 
 houses in the village and asked for bread and cheese, but did not tarry 
 a long time, from fear that the Americans might rally and attack them. 
 They plundered some of the houses, and spread great consternation 
 among the inhabitants. A small party of them went to the house of 
 David Marple, a very aged man, and grandfather of Col. David Marple, 
 of Warminster township, Bucks county, and ordered him and his fami- 
 ly to catch and cook the chickens for them. He told them he was 
 unable to do it, when they excused him, and ordered his sons and 
 daughters to catch them, which they were obliged to do. They even 
 compelled them take the setting hens from their nests. 
 
 The last British soldier was killed in a wood a short distance above 
 what was then known as Hart's Corner, on the east side of the Bristol 
 road. He was chasing an American named Vandyke, and had oome 
 within a few yards of him, while running through the wood. He 
 snapped one pistol at him, which missed fire. Vandyke, in his alarm, 
 seems not to have recollected that he carried a loaded musket on his 
 shoulder, but was retreating as rapidly as possible, with a fair pros- 
 pect of having his brains blown out by his pursuer, When the dra- 
 goon was about drawing his second pistol, it occurred to the American 
 that his gun was loaded, and might in this critical posture of affairs 
 do him some service. Thereupon, without any delay, he took delib- 
 erate aim at the Englishman and shot him dead ; then mounted his 
 horse and rode away to join the main body of Americans. This inci- 
 
14 BATTLE OF THE CROOKED BILLET. 
 
 (lent used to be related by Ciiptain Baird, now deceased, wbo was an 
 officer in tho. action, and we think an eyewitness to the affair. 
 
 At this period, there lived in the neighborhood of the l>illet two 
 men named Van IJu.'-kirk, both of whom bore the title of captain ; one 
 was noted for being a staunch Whig, and the other was quite as violent 
 a Tory. The IJritish knew only of the Whig, and had long been anx- 
 ious to capture him, as he made himself very obnoxious by his activity 
 in the cause of the colonies. While they were burning the buckwheat 
 8traw, many of the neighbors collected there, to see what was going 
 on, and among the number was the Tory Captain Van ]>uskirk. He 
 was known to those present, and some one of them called him by 
 name. A British cficer hearing this, immediately asked him if he 
 was Captain Van Buskirk. lie replied that he was, no doubt feeling 
 pleased that he was thus noticed, and looked for some compliment for 
 Lis services to King George. Alas ! the poor man was most sadly 
 mistaken, for be was immediately arrested and placed in irons, being 
 mistaken for his patriotic uametake. He asserted his innocence again 
 and again, and assured thera he was the wrong person, and not the 
 Whig Van Buskirk, whom they wanted. But his protestations had 
 no other effect than to raise a laugh at his expense ; they could not be 
 caught in any such trap as that, in order to allow an arch-rehel to 
 csoape and therefore they held on to him. His neighbors smiled and 
 said nothing in his behalf — thinking the joke was entirely too good an 
 one to be rectified. They hurried him off to Philadelphia with them, 
 whore they kept him in jail for some time, and treated him very badly. 
 At last some persons in the city, who knew him, interested themselves 
 in his behalf, and convinced his captors he was the wrong person, and 
 not the one they wanted. Upon this they set him at liberty, and 
 made many apologies for the injury they had done him. But it did 
 not cure the wound. He returned home, annd ever after was as 
 staunch a Whig as his namesake. The medicine had worked a radical 
 cure. 
 
 Soon after the British, when on their way to the scene of action, 
 had turned into the cross-road at Lloyd's Corner, they stopped at a 
 farm-house — now owned by Mr. William Kelly — and roused up the 
 inmates, to procure a guide to show them tho nearest way to the Bil- 
 let ; they were behind their time, and in great haste. A young man 
 living with the family put his head out of the window and demanded 
 their business. They told him he must show them the road to the 
 Billet, and ordered him to dress and come down immediately. He 
 refused to until they threatened to shoot him if he did not comply with 
 
■BATTLE or THE CROOKED lUEI.ET. 15 
 
 their demauJ. lie told them if he should accompany them, and the 
 Americans caught him, they would certainly kill him, and that ho 
 could only show them the way on condition that they would furnish 
 him with a fast horse, to enable him to esijape if his countrymen should 
 attempt to capture him. This they agreed to, and mounted him on a 
 fleet animal and placed him at the head of the column. He soon 
 found the horse he rode was a very fast one, and vratching his oppor- 
 tunity when he was a short distance in advance, put whip to his horse 
 and made his escape. They fired their pistols at him, which only 
 increased his speed ; and as they did not dare pursue him, for fear of 
 falling into an ambush of the Americans, he succeeded in getting off 
 without any difficulty. This was related to the writer by the lato 
 Judge Watts of Bucks county, who saw the man, about daylight, rid- 
 ing along the road which runs from the county line to the Bristol road 
 at the top of his speed. He was without hat or coat ; and my inform- 
 ant did not know what was the matter then, but learned the cause of 
 it in a few days. When Judge Watts saw him he was passing through 
 what is now the village of Davisville. An officer of Siaicoe's column 
 left his horse at the house of Isaac Boileau, a short distance above the 
 eight-square school house, on the county line, in charge of a negro 
 slave named Moore, and threatened terrible things against him if he 
 should let any of the '■' jRehels," take him before his return. In a 
 short time a retreating American, hard pressed, came that way and 
 demanded the horse; the negro refused to give him up until the sol- 
 dier made some demonstration of enforcing his modest request, when 
 he surrendered him. The American mounted him and rode away 
 across the fields. Not long afterward the English returned, when the 
 officer came to inquire for his horse, which he saw was gone. The poor 
 black was much alarmed, and as well as he could explained to him 
 how the American had forced him to give the horse. The English- 
 man was in a terrible rage when he learned what had taken place, and 
 immediately put the negro under arrest and carried him along with the 
 troops ; but he was released after traveling a few miles, and returned 
 home in safety. This was related to the writer by an eyewitness to 
 the transaction. 
 
 The last American killed was at Hart's Corner. In company with 
 another man, named Cooper, he had retreated along the road which 
 runs from Johnsville to the Bristol road. The main body was in ad- 
 vance of them, and they were sitting side by side on the fence at the 
 end of the road, resting themselves before going into the wood, when 
 two British dragoons, unobserved by them, raised the hill near the 
 
iG iJATtLE OP TUE CROOKEt) lilLLET. 
 
 house in wliich General White lately lived, and approached withld 
 tanco of their carbines. One of them fired his piece at the two Ameri- 
 cans, the ball from which struck Cooper's companion, who fell off the 
 Fence dead. Cooper jumped over into the wood, and escaped. The 
 blood remained on the fence for many years. 
 
 Isaac Tomkins relates that he was a small boy at the time of the 
 battle, but remembers the day very distinctly. He then lived with 
 his father, in the building in which Mr-. Fretz now keeps store in Hat- 
 borough, lie had just got up, about sunrise in the morning, when 
 his sister, who had been sent into the garden to plant cucumbers, came 
 runnin<T into the house shouting '' the British are coming," when they 
 looked out and saw a large body of red-coated dragoons marching up 
 Ihe road. These were part of Abercrombie's command, who made the 
 attack in front. 
 
 The late Jonathan Delany used to mention a circumstance he wit- 
 nessed. He was living at the time in Frankford, through which one 
 ■detachment of the British troops passed on their return to the city. 
 Among the prisoners was an old man, who wore on his shoes a pair of 
 large silver buckles. They attracted the attention of a soldier who, 
 as thev were marching along the street, left the ranks and stooped 
 down to tear them oflP. The old man, who was not disposed to be thus 
 t-obbed of his property, struck the thief on the head with his fist and 
 knocked him over on to the ground. The other soldiers who witnes» 
 Be<l the act gave a loud shout in approval of the prisoner's courage. 
 
 Nathan Marple, father of Col. Marplc, was then a lad about sixteen 
 years of age, and lived with his father in the Billet. He heard the 
 Sring early in the morning, and supposing Lacey's men were getting 
 ready to drill, started across the field to go to them. He had not got 
 far, however, when he saw the British dragoons riding across the field 
 toward the camp ; they had cloaks on, and he could not see their red- 
 •coats. He took warning at what ho saw, and returned home. He 
 further relates, that he saw an officer ride some distance in front of his 
 men, halt, rise up in his stirrups, and look all around as if he were 
 reconnoitering. He immediately heard the report of a gun, and saw 
 the officer fall to the ground. The horse, instead of runnine away as 
 might be supposed at the loss of his rider, wheeled around and canter- 
 ed back to his company. 
 
 Mr. Safety Maghee, of Northampton township, Bucks county, a 
 gentleman now nearly ninety-six years of age, gave us some time ago 
 the following as his recollection of the action at the Crooked Billet. 
 He says :— 
 
BATTLE OF THE CROOKED BILLET. 17 
 
 " In 1778 I was living with my uncle, Thomas Folwell, in South- 
 ampton township, in the house where Horatio G. Yerkes now lives. 
 On the morning of the battle of the Billet, now Hatborough, I heard 
 the firing very distinctly, and a black man, named Harry, and myself 
 concluded we would go and see what was going on. I was then about 
 thirteen years old. We started from the house and went directly 
 toward where the firing was. When we came near where Johnsville 
 now stands, we heard a heavy volley there, which brought us to a halt. 
 The firing was in the woods. The British were in pursuit of our Mi- 
 litia and chased them along the road that leads from Johnsville to the 
 Bristol road, and also through the fields from the Street road to the 
 Bristol road. They overtook the militia in the woods at the corner of 
 the Street road and the one that leads across to the Bristol road. 
 When the firing had ceased, we continued on and found three wounded 
 militia-men near the wood ; they appeared to have been wounded by 
 the sword, and were much cut and hacked. When we got to them 
 they were groaning greatly. They died in a little while, and I under- 
 stood they were buried on the spot. They appeared to be G-ermanSi 
 We then passed on, and in a field near by we saw two horses lying 
 dead — they were British, One of them was shot in the head, and the 
 gun had been put so near that the hair was scorched. While we were 
 on the field, Harry picked up a cartouch box that had been dropped 
 or torn off the wearer. Shortly after, we met some of the militia re- 
 turning, and when they saw the black fellow with the cartouch box, 
 they became very much enraged, and accused him of robbing the dead 
 and took it away from him. These dead horses were on the firm of 
 Col. Joseph Hart. Soon after this we returned home. The last man 
 was killed on the Bristol road, at the end of the road that comes across 
 from Johnsville. A British officer who was wounded in the battle was 
 taken to the house of Samuel Irvia who liveu near by. His wounds 
 were dressed there, and he afterward returned with the troops to 
 Philadelphia. This affair created a good deal of excitement in the 
 neighborhood." 
 
 The news of the battle epread far and near over the country in a 
 few hours, and many of the inhabitants were so much alarmed they 
 hardly dared venture from home that day, until they were asured the 
 British had returned to Philadelphia. A day or two before, a child of 
 Samuel Flack, who lived in Doylestown, and kept the tavern where 
 Brower's hotel now stands, had died, and was to be buried that day at 
 Neshaminy. The people in the neighborhood were so much afraid 
 that only four persons would venture with the corpse to the place of 
 
18 BATTLE OF THE CROOKED BILLET. 
 
 burial — two young men and two young women, one of whom was a 
 Miss Mary Doyle, afterward a Mrs. Mitchell, and mother of Mrs. 
 Nathaniel Cornell, of Doylestown. They were all mounted on horse- 
 back, the men being armed, and carrying the coffin; and they obtain- 
 ed the fastest horses they could, so they might escape from the enemy 
 if they should be pursued. When they reached the burying-ground, 
 the two young men dismounted and buried the body, while the young 
 women remained on horseback, to be ready to fly at the first alarm ; 
 after this duty was performed they remounted and hurried home as 
 rapidly as possible. They could see the smoke from the burning buck- 
 wheat straw as they rode along. 
 
 As soon as General Lacey was fised in his new camp at the Ne- 
 shaminy, whither he marched from the field of battle, he ordered a 
 general court martial, to try the ofiicers of his scouts for disobedience 
 of orders and neglect of duty on the morning of the surprise and at- 
 tack at the Billet. It convened at camp. May the 4th, 1778, and was 
 composed of twelve officers ; Colonel Smith was President, and Wil- 
 liam Findley, afterward a distinguished politician and Member of 
 Cong) ess, was the judge-advocate. The two officers tried, were Lieu- 
 tenant Neilson and Ensign Laughlin : the former was found guilty of 
 the charge laid against him, and sentenced to be cashiered, which was 
 carried into effect; the latter was acquitted and ordered to his regiment 
 for duty. Besides these two officers, several others, both soldiers and 
 citizens, were tried before the same court-martial, for various offences 
 — some of them being charged with holding intercourse with the ene- 
 my. Several were found guilty, some of whom were sentenced to bo 
 whipped, :»nd others to be confined in the jail at Lancaster. 
 
 (leneral Lac?y continued his camp at the Neshaminy, near the cross 
 roads, until he was relieved from the command by General Potter. 
 
 Many have blamed General Lacey for the affair at the Billet; and 
 those who were hostile to th? cause of the colonies endeavored to in- 
 jure his reputation, by making ii'"m responsible for the loss he sustain- 
 ed. This attempt, however, failed, and his conduct received the ap- 
 probation of his superiors. His situation was truly a critical one, and 
 nothing but the coolest judgment, and most determined bravery of 
 himself and men, saved them from an entire defeat, and the probable 
 capture of his entire force. Throughout the whole alRir he shows 
 himself to have been a man of more than ordinary capacity for com- 
 mand, and justly covered himself with fresh laurels. In nowise is he 
 answerable for the sudden surprise. The place he selected for hi^ 
 camp was an -eligible one, and of some natural defense; and he took 
 
BATTLE OV THE CROOKED BILLET. 1*0 
 
 every precaution the evening before to obtain the earliest information 
 of the approach of the enemy. The officers to whom he had entrusted 
 the duty of patroling the road leading to his camp disobeyed his or- 
 ders, and instead of being out upon duty were in camp ; and after- 
 ward, when they did discover the enemy in time to alarm the camp, 
 they neglected to do so, and hence the surprise was complete. The 
 most vigilant officers are liable thus to be deceived by their subalterns, 
 and it would be unjust indeed to blame the commander for such inattcn - 
 tion to duty on the part of his subordinates. From this cause Gener- 
 al Wayne was surprised at the Paoli, a few nights after the battle of 
 Brandywine; and many other distinguished commanders have suffered 
 severe losses from a like cause. The only good rule by which to 
 judge military officers is by what they accomplish ; and applying this 
 standard to General Lacey, his actions will bear the closest scrutiny. 
 His camp of four hundred men was surprised and surrounded, at day- 
 light, by a force of more than three times as many British troops — he 
 bad raw militia — the enemy were veterans inured to war. In spite 
 of this disparity of force and circumstances, he formed his little Spar- 
 tan band into columns, and cut his way through the enemy, with the 
 small loss of only about thirty-five men killed and wounded. He had 
 to march a considerable distance across an open country, and fought 
 every foot of the way, being pressed at the same time in front and 
 rear, and on both flanks. We are astonished he was able to extricate 
 himself at all from his perilous situation ; and it seems quite like a 
 miracle he did not fall into the enemy's hands with his whole force 
 So highly was his conduct appreciated by the Executive Council, that 
 Timothy Matlack, Esquire, the Secretary, wrote him on the 16th of 
 May, to the following effect : "Your conduct is highly approved ; and 
 your men have justly acquired great reputation by their bravery." 
 This commendation had some meaning; and, in addition, all the well 
 wishers of the cause of liberty applauded the conduct of himself 
 and his men. The enemy also tacitly acknowledged his superior skill 
 and courage, for Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe, in his account of the es- 
 pedition says they failed in the object they had in view, which was to 
 capture General Lacey and his whole force. Hence, the British in 
 reality, suffered a defeat, although they remained masters of the field. 
 With this evidence before them, who will deny to General Lacey great 
 honor as a brave and skilful officer ? 
 
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