the battle of Brandywine that Wayne was here
with about fifteen hundred men and four pieces of cannon, Washington
having given him directions to annoy the enemy's rear and try to cut off
his baggage train. This place was some two or three miles southwest of
the British lines, away from the public roads, and at that time covered
with a forest.

"But for the treachery of a Tory the British would have known nothing of
the whereabouts of these patriots who were struggling to free their
country from unbearable oppression. But Howe, learning it all from the
Tory, resolved to attempt to surprise and slaughter the Americans. He
despatched General Grey (who was afterwards a murderer and plunderer at
Tappan and along the New England coast) to steal upon the patriot camp at
night and destroy as many as he could.

"Wayne heard that something of the kind was intended, but did not believe
it. Still, he took every precaution; ordered his men to sleep on their
arms with their ammunition under their coats--to keep it dry I suppose,
as the night was dark and stormy.

"Grey and his men marched stealthily on them in the night, passing
through the woods and up a narrow defile. It was about one o'clock in the
morning that they gained Wayne's left. Grey was a most cruel wretch,
called the no-flint general because of his orders to his soldiers to take
the flints from their guns; his object being to compel them to use the
bayonet; his orders were to rush upon the patriots with the bayonet and
give no quarter. In that way, in the darkness and silence, they killed
several of the pickets near the highway.

"The patrolling officer missed these men, his suspicions were aroused,
and he hastened with his news to Wayne's tent. Wayne at once paraded his
men, but unfortunately in the light of his fires, which enabled the enemy
to see and shoot them down. Grey and his men came on in silence, but with
the fierceness of tigers; they leaped from the thick darkness upon the
Americans, who did not know from which quarter to expect them. The
Americans fired several volleys, but so sudden and violent was the attack
that their column was at once broken into fragments, and they fled in
confusion. One hundred and fifty Americans were killed and wounded in
this assault. It is said that some of the wounded were cruelly butchered
after surrendering and asking for quarter. But for Wayne's coolness and
skill his whole command would have been killed or taken prisoners