Brandywine, Pennsylvania September 11, 1777 Volley and Bayonet Regiment Scale Revised July 19, 2014 The Battle of Brandywine was one of the largest battles of the American Revolution. The British under General Howe attacked George Washington's Army as they attempted to defend the various crossing sites over the Brandywine River. Howe made use of a flanking march by Cornwallis' division and defeated the Americans. On September 26, 1777, the British occupied the provisional American capital of Philadelphia. Regiment Scale: 1 SP = 200 men or 4 guns British Main Army: Lieutenant General Sir William Howe: Cornwallis Wing (Division): Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis: Division Troops: Royal Artillery (4 x 12-pdr): Royal Artillery (8 x 6-pdr): Royal Artillery (8 x 6-pdr): 16th Light Dragoons (234): British Grenadiers: (Exhaustion 4) Colonel Henry Monckton: 1st British Grenadier Battalion (635): 2nd British Grenadier Battalion (635): Hessian Jaegers (594): (Exhaustion 2) Lieutenant Colonel Ludwig von Wurmb: Left Wing/Hessian Jaegers (@200): Center/Hessian Jaegers (@200): Right Wing/Hessian Jaegers (@200): 1st Light Infantry Battalion (712): (Exhaustion 2) Lieutenant Colonel Robert Abercromby: Left Wing/1st Light Infantry Battalion: Right Wing/1st Light Infantry Battalion: 2nd Light Infantry Battalion (712): (Exhaustion 2) Major John Maitland: Left Wing/2nd Light Infantry Battalion: Right Wing/2nd Light Infantry Battalion: 3rd British Brigade (1601): (Exhaustion 5) Major General Charles Grey: AC CC 1-6 Heavy 2-6 Field 2-6 Field 1-6 Light Cavalry 3-6 FI, Shock 3-6 FI, Shock 1-5 FI, SS 1-5 FI, SS, DG 1-5 FI, SS 2-6 FI, SK, DG 2-6 FI, SK 2-6 FI, SK, DG 2-6 FI, SK
Left Wing/3rd British Brigade: 3-5 FI 15 th Regiment of Foot (378) 17 th Regiment of Foot (233) Right Wing/3rd British Brigade: 2-5 FI 44 th Regiment of Foot (366) 42nd Highland Regiment (624): 3-6 FI, Shock 4th British Brigade (1506): (Exhaustion 4) Brigadier General James Agnew: Left Wing/3rd British Brigade: 2-6 FI 33 rd Regiment of Foot (363) Center/3rd British Brigade: 3-5 FI 37 th Regiment of Foot (362) 46 th Regiment of Foot (335) Right Wing/3rd British Brigade: 2-5 FI 64 th Regiment of Foot (446) British Guards Brigade (945): (Exhaustion 3) Brigadier General Edward Mathew: 1st Guards Battalion: 2-6 FI, Shock 2nd Guards Battalion: 2-6 FI, Shock Guards Light Infantry Company: 1-6 FI, SS Hessian Grenadier Brigade: (Exhaustion 4) Colonel Emil von Donop: Linsing Grenadier Battalion (425): 2-5 SI, Shock, DG Minnegerode Grenadier Battalion (446): 3-5 SI, Shock, DG Lengerke Grenadier Battalion (420): 2-5 SI, Shock, DG Knyphausen s Wing: Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen: CC Division Troops: Royal Artillery (6 x 12-pdr & 4 x 5.5 howitzers): 3-6 Heavy Royal Artillery (8 x 6-pdr): 2-6 Field Sqn/16th Light Dragoons (119): 1-6 Light Cavalry Advance Guard: (Exhaustion 2) Major John Wemys: Queen s Rangers (398): 2-5 FI, SK Ferguson s Rifles (185): 1-6 FI, SS 1st British Brigade (1547): (Exhaustion 5) Major General John Vaughan: Left Wing/1st British Brigade: 3-6 FI 23 rd Regiment of Foot (416) Center/1st British Brigade: 3-5 FI 4 th Regiment of Foot (352) 28 th Regiment of Foot (379) Right Wing/1st British Brigade: 2-5 FI
49 th Regiment of Foot (400) 2nd British Brigade (1627): (Exhaustion 5) Major General James Grant: Left Wing/2nd British Brigade: 5 th Regiment of Foot (400) Center/2nd British Brigade: 10 th Regiment of Foot (300) 27 th Regiment of Foot (333) Right Wing/2nd British Brigade: 40 th Regiment of Foot (320) 55 th Regiment of Foot (274) Reserve Brigade (812): (Exhaustion 2) Major General Alexander Leslie: 1st Bn/71st Highland Regiment (406): 2nd Bn/71st Highland Regiment (406): Hessian Brigade: (Exhaustion 6) Major General Johann von Stirn: Du Corps Regiment (710): Donop Regiment (624): Mirbach Regiment (705): Combined Regiment (517): Baggage & Train: (not in battle) 3rd Bn/71st Highland Regiment (406): Pontoon Train Supply Train Siege Artillery Park 1 The American Main Army: General George Washington: Major General Marquis de Lafayette (aide de camp): Light Infantry Brigade (1019): (Exhaustion 3) Brigadier General William Maxwell: Left Wing/Light Infantry Brigade: Greene s Light Infantry Battalion (234) Wayne s Light Infantry Battalion (234) Nash s Light Infantry Detachment (117) Right Wing/Light Infantry Brigade: Stephen s Light Infantry Battalion (234) 8 th Bn/Chester County Militia (200) North Carolina Brigade (900-117): (Exhaustion 2) Brigadier General Francis Nash: 2-5 FI 3-5 FI 3-5 FI 2-5 FI, NE, DG 2-5 FI, NE 4-5 SI, NE, DG 3-4 SI, NE, DG 3-4 SI, NE, DG 3-4 SI, NE 2-5 FI, NE AC 3-5 FI, SK 2-5 FI, SK 1 Not used in battle but included: 10 x 24-pdr, 8 x 12-pdr, 4 x 8 howitzers, 2 x 5.5 howitzers, 4 x 13 mortars, 2 x 10 mortars, 2 x 8 mortars, and 6 x 5.5 mortars.
Left Wing/North Carolina Brigade: 1 st North Carolina Regiment Right Wing/North Carolina Brigade: 2-5 FI, NE, PT. DG 2 nd North Carolina Regiment 3 rd North Carolina Regiment Continental Artillery (4 x 3 to 6-pdr): Cavalry Brigade (485): (Exhaustion --) Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski: Left Wing/Cavalry Brigade: 1-4 Light Cavalry 1 st Dragoon Regiment (145) 2 nd Dragoon Regiment (110) Right Wing/Cavalry Brigade: 1-4 Light Cavalry 3 rd Dragoon Regiment (120) 4 th Dragoon Regiment (110) 1st Division: (Exhaustion 4) Major General Nathanael Greene: Left Wing/1st Virginia Brigade (838-117): 1 st Virginia Regiment (120) 5 th Virginia Regiment (127) 13 th Virginia Regiment (200) Right Wing/1st Virginia Brigade: 9 th Virginia Regiment (391) Left Wing/2nd Virginia Brigade (900-117): 2 nd Virginia Regiment (182) 6 th Virginia Regiment (223) Right Wing/2nd Virginia Brigade: 10 th Virginia Regiment (295) 14 th Virginia Regiment (100) 13 th Pennsylvania Regiment (100) Continental Artillery (8 x 3 to 6-pdr): 2nd Division: (Exhaustion 5) Major General Adam Stephen: Left Wing/3rd Virginia Brigade (1199-117): 3-5 FI, NE, PT, DG 3 rd Virginia Regiment (150) 7 th Virginia Regiment (472) Right Wing/3rd Virginia Brigade: 11 th Virginia Regiment (377) 15 th Virginia Regiment (200) Left Wing/4th Virginia Brigade (812-117): 4 th Virginia Regiment (314) 8 th Virginia Regiments (157) Right Wing/4th Virginia Brigade: 12 th Virginia Regiment (117)
Grayson s Regiment (100) Patton s Regiment (124) Continental Artillery (8 x 3 to 6-pdr): 3rd Division: (Exhaustion 5) Major General John Sullivan: Hazen s 2nd Canadian Regiment (393): 1st Maryland Brigade (650): 1 st Maryland Regiments (199) 3 rd Maryland Regiment (114) 5 th Maryland Regiment (140) 6 th Maryland Regiment (118) Delaware Regiment (79) Left Wing/2nd Maryland Brigade (718): 2 nd Maryland Regiment (118) 4 th Maryland Regiment (200) Right Wing/2nd Maryland Brigade: 7 th Maryland Regiment (95) German Battalion (305) Continental Artillery (6 x 3 to 6-pdr): 4th Division: (Exhaustion 5) Brigadier General Anthony Wayne: Continental Artillery (8 x 3 to 6-pdr): 2-5 FI, NE, SK, 3-5 FI, NE, DG 2-5 FI, NE, DG 2-5 FI, NE, DG Proctor s Continental Artillery (4 x 12-pdr, 4 x 5.5" how): 2-5 Heavy Left Wing/1st Pennsylvania Brigade (842-117): 1 st Pennsylvania Regiment (335) 2 nd Pennsylvania Regiment (21) Right Wing/1st Pennsylvania Brigade: 10 th Pennsylvania Regiment (231) 7 th Pennsylvania Regiment (100) Hartley s Regiment (155) Left Wing/2nd Pennsylvania Brigade (998-117): 4 th Pennsylvania Regiment (250) 5 th Pennsylvania Regiments (241) Right Wing/2nd Pennsylvania Brigade: 8 th Pennsylvania Regiment (369) 11 th Pennsylvania Regiment (138) 5th Division: (Exhaustion 5) Major General William Alexander (Lord Stirling): Left Wing/3rd Pennsylvania Brigade (960): 3 rd Pennsylvania Regiment (150) 6 th Pennsylvania Regiment (200) 9 th Pennsylvania Regiment (193) Right Wing/3rd Pennsylvania Brigade: 3-5 FI, NE, PT, DG
12 th Pennsylvania Regiment (231) Spencer s Regiment (186) Left Wing/New Jersey Brigade (750): 1 st New Jersey Regiment (169) 2 nd New Jersey Regiment (142) Right Wing/New Jersey Brigade: 3 rd New Jersey Regiment (173) 4 th New Jersey Regiment (266) Continental Artillery (8 x 3 to 6-pdr): Pennsylvania Militia Division: (Exhaustion 5) Major General John Armstrong: Continental Artillery (2 x 3-pdr): Left Wing/1st Pennsylvania Militia Brigade (@1225): Right Wing/1st Pennsylvania Militia Brigade: Left Wing/2nd Pennsylvania Militia Brigade (@1335): Center/2nd Pennsylvania Militia Brigade: Right Wing/2nd Pennsylvania Militia Brigade: 3-4 SI, MIL DG 3-4 SI, MIL 2-4 SI, MIL 3-4 SI, MIL 2-4 SI, MIL Notes: 1. Artillery: By using primary documents to construct this order of battle, I was able to find actual British artillery strengths and for the Americans I was able to find that they had about 50-52 guns at the battle. That was based on the Americans having 39 guns (2 x 12-pdr, 26 x 6-pdr, 6 x 4-pdr, 4 x 5.5" how and 1 x 8" how) in November 1777 plus the 11 guns (3 x 6-pdr, 4 x 4-pdr, 2 x 3-pdr, 1 x 5.5" how, and 1 x 4-pdr iron) they lost at Brandywine plus 14 guns (New York = 6 x 6-pdr, Massachusetts = 4 x 3-pdr, and Pennsylvania 2 x 6-pdr and 2 x 12-pdr borrowed from some of the states; of these about 12 were with other brigades not at Brandywine (McDougall, Varnum and Huntington). I have estimated the distribution of American guns based on some notes from primary sources and the usual distribution pattern employed by Knox. The Americans issued each of the eleven infantry brigades a company of artillery (about four guns). The British tended to brigade their guns to be able to use them in mass, so I have shown them as separate stands in each wing. The American lighter guns (3-6-pdr) were attached to the brigades so I have shown most of the American artillery as dedicated guns. The siege train the British carried was not manned and should not be part of the battle (much like their pontoon train) but are included for completeness. The American siege artillery train had been moved to Philadelphia (as far as I can tell). 2. American Converged Light Infantry: The American Light Infantry Brigade was formed from a draft of 234 men from each of Greene's, Wayne's and Stephen's divisions (but not apparently Stirling's or Sullivan's divisions). These men were then organized into one battalion of four companies each (one per division). There was also a detachment formed from Nash's Continental Brigade (probably 117 men). These men were simply picked men from each regiment and wore their regimental uniforms, the
special light infantry uniforms were not worn at this time. These detachments have been figured into the SPs for the Americans. 3. Lafayette: Major General Marquis de Lafayette was an A to Washington; treat him as a division commander and he may command any unit in the American army. 4. Knox: Brigadier General Knox was the Continental artillery commander; treat him as a unit commander and he may command any artillery unit in the American army. 5. British Brigade Commanders in the Regimental Scale: I have rated the British and Hessian brigade commanders as unit commanders () to represent their greater effectiveness. They should be mounted as separate commanders with a 3" command radius. 6. American Independent Brigade Commanders in the Regimental Scale: I have rated American independent brigade commanders as unit commanders () to represent that these brigades operated as independent forces. They should be mounted as separate commanders with a 3" command radius. 7. Unit Commanders: Unit commanders are a new type of command stand included at the various scales. Unit commanders are mounted separately like other commanders. Unit commanders may not rally troops and have a command radius of only 3 inches for formed troops. 8. British Siege Artillery Park: The British Siege Artillery Park included (in actual number of guns): 10 x 24-pdr, 8 x 12-pdr, 4 x 8 howitzers, 2 x 5.5 howitzers, 4 x 13 mortars, 2 x 10 mortars, 2 x 8 mortars, and 6 x 5.5 mortars. Sources: CO 5/94 Military Dispatches 1776-77, TNA WO 36/3 Returns, 1774-1783, TNA (Head of Elk return used for British Order of Battle) WO 379/3 Return of Quarters, TNA Andre, John, Henry Cabot ed. Andre's Journal: An Authentic Record of the Movements and Engagements of the British Army in America From June 1777 to November 1778 as Recorded From Day to Day by Major John Andre, 2 vols. Boston: The Bibliophile Society, 1903. Atkinson, Christopher T. "British Forces in North American, 1774-1781: Their Distribution and Strength." Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, 16 (Spring 1937), 3-23; 18 (Autumn 1940), 163-166; 20 (Winter 1941), 190-192. Ewald, Johann von, Joseph P. Tustin, ed. Diary of the American War: a Hessian Journal. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979.
Howe, William. The Narrative of Lieut. Gen. Sir William Howe, in a Committee of the House of Commons; On the 29th of April, 1779, Relative to His Conduct, During His Late Command of the King's Troops in North America: To Which Are Added, Some Observations Upon a Pamphlet, Entited, Letters to a Nobleman. London: H. Baldwin, 1780. Johnson, Curt. Battles of the American Revolution. London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1975. Kemble, Stephen. Kemble Papers. 2 vols. Boston: Gregg Press, 1972. Lesser, Charles H., ed. The Sinews of Independence. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1976. (American organization) MacKenzie, Stephen. Diary of Frederick MacKenzie. 2 vols, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1972. Martin, David G. The Philadelphia Campaign, June 1777 - July 1778. Conschohocken, Pa.: Combined Books, 1993. Novak, Greg. The American War of Independence, Book One: the Northern Campaign. Calumet, Pa: Old Glory Corp. (American organization). The War of Independence in the North. Champaign, Il.: Ulster Imports, 1990. Reed, Michael. "Brandywine Order of Battle" (unpublished). (provided details for American militia, light infantry and cavalry) Seybolt, Robert Francis, ed. "Howe's Military Operations in 1777: A Contemporary British Account of General Sir William Howe's Military Operations in 1777: Journal of the Proceedings of the Army Under the Command of Sir Wm. Howe in the Year 1777" in Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, vol. 1, part 40. Worcester: American Antiquarian Society, April 16, 1930. 69-92. Ward, Christopher, The War of the Revolution, 2 vols. New York: MacMillian, 1952.