History of the Loyalists: Howe Lands his Army on the Elk River in August, 1777

HISTORY OF THE LOYALISTS HOWE LANDS HIS ARMY ON THE ELK RIVER IN AUGUST, 1777 The Number of His Troops—Marches to the Head of Elk-The Movements of Washington's Army—On the Eve of Battle. BY JAMES HANNAY. CHAPTER XXL—Continued. We have now to consider that, instead of merely one field of warfare to deal with, there are three separate scenes of activity, widely separated from each other, the operations in which must be detailed in such a manner as to avoid confusion. These centers of activity were New York, where the garrison under General Clinton, was continually exposed to attack by the rebels; the line which was being followed by Burgoyne from the head of Lake Champlain towards Albany; and the head of Elk, where General Howe was beginning his campaign against Philadelphia. HOWE LANDS AT THE ELK RIVER. On the 25th of August, just three days after the rebel attack on Staten Island, as has already been seen, General Howe landed his forces at Turkey Point, on the west side of the River Elk, about 11 miles from Elkton, at its head. The names of the regiments and battalions which composed Howe’s army have already been given in a previous chapter, the only loyalist corps being the Queen’s Rangers, which at that time was about 500 strong. The number of men in Howe’s army has been variously stated. Colonel Kemble, who was deputy adjutant general of the army, and who was in a position to know the facts, states in his journal that Sir William Howe had on this service upwards of 13,000 fighting men. American histories state that he had 18,000 men. The discrepancy between these two estimates amounts to 5,000 men, but it may not actually be so great as a first glance at the figures would seem to show. In the British army in estimating numbers, only the rank and file are counted, so that this system leaves out of account all the officers and non-commissioned officers, and likewise, all the drummers and men who are not actually in the line. The addition of these would make a difference of one-fifth or one-sixth in the estimate of the number In an army. Applying this rule to the numbers in the army of General Howe which landed on the river Elk, it may be safely assumed that the British general had with him at that time about 16,000 men. The destination of General Howe was Philadelphia, a position which he could have reached with greater ease by way of Trenton, while protecting at the same time the Loyalists of New Jersey from a malignant enemy, and gathering them about him to reinforce his army. Of all the blunders of the war perhaps the most flagrant was the campaign against Philadelphia by way of the Delaware, and although it resulted in the capture of that city, it came very near being fatal to the British army in the following year, for they were in danger of being cooped up in Philadelphia between a French fleet and the rebel army, and had to evacuate that city to prevent a disaster similar to that at Yorktown three years later. It is not a little singular that in the campaigns of the Southern rebellion, we find history repeating itself, and a Northern general, as indolent as Howe, endeavoring to effect the capture of Richmond, not by direct advance upon it, but by a circuitous route by sea. OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE DELAWARE. It had been the intention of Howe when he left Sandy Hook to advance against Philadelphia by way of the Delaware, but when he reached the capes of that river, he was informed of the obstructions which the Americans had placed in its channel to prevent the ascent of the British fleet and the batteries on the shore which covered them. Upon isolated marshes, or low islands of mud, a little below the mouth of the Schuylkill, they erected a strong redoubt with extensive outworks and called it Fort Mifflin. On the opposite shore of Now Jersey, a strong redoubt called Fort Mercer was also erected and well supplied with artillery. In the deep channels of the river, between those forts the rebels sank ranges of strong frames with iron pointed wooden spikes, which could not be passed. Similar obstructions were placed in the river three miles further down, between the main land and Billings Island. As these obstructions could not be forced or removed without difficulty, Howe was obliged to abandon his intention of passing up the Delaware, and he proceeded up the Chesapeake. The first two days and nights after the army landed were stormy, and prevented any important movement being made; but on the morning of the 28th of August, the van-guard of the army consisting of the two battalions of light infantry, with the Queen’s Rangers and Ferguson’s corps, the British and Hessian grenadiers, 1st and 2nd British brigades, three troops of the 16th dragoons and three battalions of the 71st regiments, marched to the head of Elk. The remaining troops consisting of the 3rd brigade of artillery the remainder of the 16th dragoons, the 3rd and 4th British brigades and the brigade of Stirn, being left at Elk ferry under the command of General Knyphausen. The army seems to have been employed for some days in obtaining supplies, and collecting horses with which to remount the cavalry. The voyage had been so long from Sandy Hook to the Chesapeake that not only had the men been put on short rations, but HUNDREDS OT THE HORSES HAD DIED, and those that were left were in a very bad condition. Thus Howe was crippled in two of the most important branches of his army, the cavalry, and artillery, and his movements were necessarily slow. Her again the old evil, which had infected the army the previous autumn broke out, and mauranding on the part of the soldiers became so serious that the most stringent orders had to be issued to check it. Commanding officers were ordered to have the knapsacks and haversacks of their men examined and report to headquarters ovary man in possession of plunder of any kind. Rewards were offered to the men for any cattle they might bring in to the commissionary general. But the provost marshal was authorized to execute upon the spot all soldiers and followers of the army straggling beyond the outposts, or detected in plundering or devastation of any kind. Those stringent orders were only in part effective, and Sir William Howe’s order book shows that many men were tried for marauding and desertion and sentenced to death in the course of that campaign. WASHINGTON’S MOVEMENTS. On the 24th of July Washington was informed of the departure of the British fleet and army towards the south. He had anticipated that Howe would endeavor to co-operate with Burgoyne by sailing up the Hudson, and to counteract this movement, had marched his army to Ramapo in New York. When he heard of Howe’s departure south, he marched his army from Ramapo to Coryell's ferry, and halted there until the 30th of July, when he heard that the fleet had been sighted off the capes of Delaware. Washington then marched to Philadelphia, but as time passed and further news of the British fleet was heard, the American general retraced his steps and halted in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. While there he was joined by Lafayette, Dekalb and Pulaski. No one, however knew what had become of General Howe, and Washington was in great perplexity. He at length concluded that Howe had gone to Charleston, South Carolina, and a council of war was held at which it was decided to march the army back to the Hudson, so that Burgoyne could be opposed or New York attacked as circumstances should direct. This was about to be done when word was brought to Washington that the British fleet had entered Chesapeake Bay and was at least 200 miles beyond the capes. This news caused great consternation in Philadelphia, which was now soon to be the object of attack. Stirring appeals were made by the authorities to rally to the defense of the city. New bodies of militia were ordered to be raised, and hand bills circulated to arouse the people. But Philadelphia contained too many Quakers to be a good fighting town, and the result was not satisfactory. For the purpose of inspiring a little more vigor into the business of recruiting, on the 24th August, Washington marched his army through the streets of Philadelphia. There appearance, however, was not such as to excite much enthusiasm, for the men were poorly clad, and did not present a very military appearance. After this had been done the American army moved to a point south of Wilmington on the Delaware, and a picked corps, under Brigadier General Maxwell, was thrown to the front. The country between Maxwell and the head of Elk was patrolled by parties of Delaware militia under Rodney. (To be continued.)