On this birthday of Lafayette, it seems appropriate to begin the story of our recent vacation to southeastern Pennsylvania: Battle of Brandywine, Valley Forge, Philadelphia, and Lancaster.
MEETING THE FRENCH AT BRANDYWINE
Arriving at the Battle of Brandywine battlefield, we discovered that the people who parked next to us were from France!
My mind rapidly tumbled the significance…France? Brandywine? Lafayette!
I exclaimed, Bienvenu!, which I learned in one of Colonial Williamsburg’s street theater scenes when they tell us to welcome France as our allies!
Pleased that I welcomed them in French, they joyfully started speaking to me in French!
{{{Uh oh, Colonial Williamsburg didn’t prepare me for this. How do I say in French, “I speak only a very little French?}}}
I motioned with teeny tiny finger motions and one of the men said, “Ah, petit,” or something like that.
Understanding that I smiled and nodded my head!
BRANDYWINE BATTLE TOUR
After paying our fees, we explored their small museum, which is very well done, followed by a viewing of their Battle of Brandywine movie.
Predominantly a Quaker community, our battlefield tour included two Quaker homes: General Washington’s headquarters and the Gilpin House where Lafayette stayed…or did he? More on that later…
Although Quakers are pacifists who do not choose sides during war, some joined the patriot cause and were thusly shunned.
Interestingly, this quiet Quaker hamlet became the scene of the largest battle in the American Revolution.
General Pickering wrote in a letter to his brother that war coming to this quiet land is judgement from Heaven for their defection, that their country should be the seat of war.
Located at the home of Benjamin Ring, a patriot Quaker who served in the Chester County militia, the Washington Headquarters was recreated.
Amazingly this relatively small house sheltered not only the large Ring family (9 members) but also Washington’s larger staff, aides-de-camp and numerous staff.
WHERE DID LAFAYETTE STAY?
The debate is: Did Lafayette stay at the Washington Headquarters with the other aides-de camp?
While researching the trip, I found sources that said he stayed at the Gilpin House , our next site to tour.
When I asked the tour guide about that, he said that was old information and now they know Lafayette stayed at the Ring house with the rest of Washington’s staff.
{{{The French visitors moved in to hear every word and positively reacted every time Lafayette was mentioned! Kindred spirits for sure!}}}
The National Park Service unearthed the 1780 journal of French officer, François Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux:…it was already late when we came within reach of the field of battle, and as we could see nothing until next morning and were too numerous to remain together, we had to separate into two divisions. Messrs. De Gimat, de Mauduit, and my two aides-de-camp, stayed with me at an inn three miles this side of the Brandywine; and the M. de La Fayette, attended by the other travelers, went on further to ask for hospitality from a Quaker named Benjamin Ring, at whose house he had lodged with General Washington the night before the battle…
Then I read somewhere that Lafayette likely stayed in Washington’s Headquarters the first night and due to his injury the next day, was moved to the Gilpin house.
That sounds probable because…
From all I’ve read, sounds like that first night at Benjamin Ring’s home was the night before the Battle of Brandywine.
SEPTEMBER 11, 1777 BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE -LAFAYETTE’S BOOT FILLS WITH BLOOD
On June 13, 1777, Lafayette’s ship landed in South Carolina, so that he could help in the American Revolution.
Arriving in Philadelphia to offer his services to the Continental Army without pay, Lafayette receives his commission to major general on July 31, 1777.
On August 5, 1777, the 19-year-old Lafayette meets General Washington.
While an instant bond occurs, Lafayette promises Washington: I am here to learn, not to teach.
On September 11, 1777, fighting commenced between the Continental Army and the British army along Brandywine Creek.
Shot in battle, Lafayette’s boot filled with blood.
General Washington ordered doctors: Treat him as if he were my son.
INDIAN QUEEN HOTEL IN PHILADELPHIA
The American Friends of Lafayette report:
The next day, Lafayette was taken by barge to the Indian Queen Hotel in Philadelphia, which was located near 4th Street and Franklin Court.
The army surgeons decided to send Lafayette to Bethlehem, where, with the aid and cooperation of the Moravian congregation, a General Hospital of the Army had been established.
Lafayette left Philadelphia and was taken up the Delaware River by boat to Bristol. There he was fortunate to meet Henry Laurens, a member of Congress from South Carolina, who offered to transport him to Bethlehem in one of his private coaches, a rare luxury in those days. A group of French officers accompanied him as he traveled up to Bethlehem.
LAFAYETTE CONVALESCENCE IN MORAVIAN HOME IN BETHLEHEM
While staying in a private home in the Moravian community of Bethlehem, Lafayette wrote: messieurs the English paid me the compliment of wounding me slightly in the leg.
Several weeks later, Lafayette joined the Continental Army at nearby Valley Forge…our next stop on our southeastern Pennsylvania tour.
PHOTOGRAPHY STORY
Sadly, I’ve lost my pictures specific to the sites we saw at the Battle of Brandywine.
However while driving along Brandywine Creek, we stumbled upon a covered bridge, which we shockingly learned later is in Delaware, merely .2 miles from the Pennsylvania border, and 3 miles from the battlefield, so that became the header photo.
