Battle of Crooked Billet

The Battle of Crooked Billet was a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought on May 1, 1778 near Crooked Billet (present-day Hatboro), Pennsylvania. In the skirmish action, British forces under the command of Major John Graves Simcoe launched a surprise attack against Brigadier General John Lacey and three regiments of Pennsylvania militia, who were literally caught sleeping. The British inflicted significant damage, and Lacey and his forces were forced to retreat into neighboring Bucks County.

Prelude

By spring of 1778, the British had occupied the cities of New York and Philadelphia. Even after the capture of forts Mifflin and Mercer, which had previously prevented the resupply of British-occupied Philadelphia by sea, the British relied heavily upon the overland route between New York City and Philadelphia for the movement of men, supplies and communication. British troops also regularly foraged for supplies in the countryside around the city.

Since December, Washington and the Continental Army were in winter quarters at Valley Forge, northwest of Philadelphia. Twenty-three year old Lacey (who had been promoted to Brigadier General and commander of the Pennsylvania militia in January), was tasked by Washington with patrolling the region north of Philadelphia, between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Washington ordered Lacey and the militia to prevent farmers from taking their goods into Philadelphia to sell to the British (who paid high prices, in gold), and to protect patriots in the region from harassment by British and Loyalist troops. [George Washington to John Lacey, dated January 23, 1778.]

In Philadelphia, British commander William Howe ordered John Graves Simcoe, commander of the Queen's Rangers (a loyalist infantry unit), to "secure the country and facilitate the inhabitants bringing in their produce to market." [Simcoe, John Graves. "A Journal of the Operations of the Queen's Rangers". New York: "The New York Times", 1968 (reprint).] During the winter of 1778, British and Loyalist troops repeatedly led raids into Bucks County, despite the presence of Lacey and the militia.

In April, Simcoe secured permission from Howe to launch an attack on Lacey and his militia. When spies in Bucks County informed Simcoe that Lacey was camped at Crooked Billet, he made plans to attack. [Simcoe, John Graves. "A Journal of the Operations of the Queen's Rangers". New York: "The New York Times", 1968 (reprint).] On the afternoon of April 30, he and Lieutenant Colonel Robert Abercromby led their contingent of troops out of Philadelphia and towards Crooked Billet.

Battle

The British troops arrived at Crooked Billet at daybreak on May 1. Simcoe had planned a "pincer"-type attack, with his troops attacking from the north and east, and Abercromby's troops from the south and west. Lacey's pickets, in place to warn against any type of threat, noticed the British troops, but failed to fire off a warning shot for fear of being killed or captured. Surprised and outnumbered, the militia were soon routed and forced to retreat into Warminster, losing their supplies and equipment at their bivouac site.

An account of the battle, published on May 5 in Philadelphia's "Royal Pennsylvania Gazette", reads as follows:

:"On Thursday night last, a small party of the British infantry, dragoons, and Queen's rangers, with a few of Capt. HOVEDEN's Pennsylvania, and Capt. JAMES's Chester dragoons, left the city about eleven o'clock, and proceeded up the Old York road. About a mile beyond the Billet they fell in with Lacey's brigade of militia, consisting of about 500 men, and immediately attacked them: Lacey, at first, made some appearance of opposition, but, in a few seconds, was thrown into confusion, obliged to retreat with precipitation, and were pursued about 4 miles. They left between 80-100 dead on the field; and on Friday, between 50-60 prisoners, besides waggoners, with 10 of their waggons loaded with baggage, flour, salt, whiskey, &c. were brought in by the troops on their return: What number of rebels were wounded, we have not been able to learn. Besides the above waggons, 3 were burnt after taking out the horses; also all the huts and what baggage could not be brought off. The royal party did not lose a single man on this occasion, and have only 7 men wounded, and 2 horses killed."

Aftermath

As a result of this engagement, the American forces lost ten wagons full of much-needed supplies, and Lacey had almost 20% of his force killed, wounded or taken prisoner.

Reasons for surprise

In his report to Thomas Wharton, president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, Lacey claimed his troops were surprised because "my scouts had neglected the proceeding Night to Patrole [sic] the Roads as they were ordered, but lay in Camp till near day, tho [sic] their orders were to leave it by 2 o'Clock in the morning" and that once British forces were discovered, the lieutenant leading the patrol "never gave us the alarm, he makes his excuse that he was so near them before he espyed [sic] them, that he thought himself in danger of being cut to peices [sic] by their Horse should he fire." Lieutenant Nielson, the officer in charge of the pickets, was court-martialed and cashiered from the militia for disobeying orders. [Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., to Thomas Wharton, President, Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, dated May 4, 1778.]

Reports of atrocities committed by British and Loyalist forces

Almost immediately, reports surfaced that British and Loyalist troops had committed atrocities, including the murder of prisoners-of-war and setting fire to the American wounded. On May 7, Washington ordered Brigadier General William Maxwell to conduct an inquiry into these allegations so that a report could be made to British commander General William Howe. [General George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, dated May 7, 1778.] Andrew Long, a justice of the peace in Bucks County, took the depositions of Colonel Watts and four residents who witnessed the battle: Samuel Henry, William Stayner, Thomas Craven and Samuel Erwin. Watts reported "we found the bodies of the dead usid [sic] in a most inhuman & barbarous manner" and that "the most cruel Barbarity that had ever been exercised by any civilised Nation; nay, Savage barbarity in its utmost exertion of cruelty could but equal it." [Deposition of Col. Frederick Watts & Sam'l Henry by Andrew Long, dated May 14, 1778.]

Lacey's report to Major General John Armstrong further documented the atrocities: "Some of the unfortunate, who fell into the merciless hands of the British, were more cruelly and inhumanely butchered. Some were set on fire with buckwheat straw, and others had their clothes burned on their backs. Some of the surviving sufferers say they saw the enemy set fire to wounded while yet alive, who struggled to put it out but were too weak and expired under the torture. I saw those lying in the buckwheat straw—they made a most melancholy appearance. Others I saw, who, after being wounded with a ball, had received near a dozen wounds with cutlasses and bayonets. I can find as many witnesses to the proof of the cruelties as there were people on the spot, and that was no small number who came as spectators." [Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., to General Armstrong, dated May 11, 1778.]

Change in command for the Pennsylvania militia

On May 11, 1778, Washington relieved Lacey of command upon the return of General Potter from a leave of absence.

Washington wrote: "Brigadier General Potter’s return from the Westward affords me the opportunity of relieving you in the command of the Pennsylvania Militia, which must have been fatiguing , considering the smallness of your numbers, and the constant motion which you have consequently obliged to be in. As General Potter is in great measure a stranger to the Country and to the people among whom he is to act, I shall be obliged to you, if you will remain with him a few days , to give him a general idea of the Roads, and to make him acquainted with those whom he can depend as guides, for intelligence, and for other necessary purposes, I am, etc." (Washington to Lacey, Writings of Washington, Volume XI, p. 374)

Lacey's relief from command was not related to his conduct at the Battle of Crooked Billet. In fact, Lacey’s appointment to brigadier general on January 9, 1778, from President Wharton states: “ Brigadier General Potter has obtained leave to visit his family, and you are to take command in his absence." (Pennsylvania Archives 1st Series, Volume VI, p.168.) On May 16, 1778 the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council wrote to Lacey stating “ ... the Council has just received intelligence from the westward that makes it necessary to give immediate attention to the defence of that quarter, against the Indians–several people have been killed on the Bald Eagle–I have, therefore, not detained the messenger as there is no material order to be given. Your conduct is highly approved: and your men have justly acquired great reputation by their bravery... One class of Philadelphia county militia is ordered to join you... ( See The Register of Pennsylvania (1829), Volume 3, pp.356-357.) No rest for the weary soldier.

Units

British and loyalist forces

* Queen's Rangers
* 120 dragoons from the 17th Light Dragoons (under Major Crewe)
* 37th Regiment of Foot
* Philadelphia Light Dragoons, also referred to as Hovenden's Royal Militia (under Captain Kerr)
* James' Troop of Provincial Dragoons (under Captain Jacob James)

American forces

* Pennsylvania Militia, Bucks County Regiment (under Captain William Pugh)
* Pennsylvania Militia, Cumberland County Regiments (under Colonels Frederick Watts and Abraham Smith)

References

Further reading

* Simcoe, John Graves. "A Journal of the Operations of the Queen's Rangers". New York: "The New York Times", 1968 (reprint).
* Smith, Charles Harper. "General Lacey's Campaign in 1778", "Bulletin of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Vol II" (1941), No.4, pp. 261-296. A review of Lacey's command from January to May 1778 using Lacey's memoirs and original letters as compiled by Lacey's son-in-law William Darlington (1849); the historical research of General W.W.H. Davis (1854,1860,and 1894); also used as source documents are the Pennsylvania Archives and Colonial Records.
* Smith, Charles Harper. "The Battle of the Billet Reviewed," "Old York Road Historical Society Bulletin, Vol VI" (1945) pp. 25-43. A reconstruction of the events leading up to and during the Battle of Crooked Billet using the Pennsylvania Archives, colonial records, Baurmeister's letters, Simcoe's journal, and the research of General W.W.H. Davis and records from the local historical society. Smith attempts to fill in the gaps in the record as John Lacey died before completing his memoirs. There is an accounting of all units that participated in the battle. The article also attempts to reconcile the various accounts in diaries and newspaper reports like the "Pennsylvania Royal Gazette" article mentioned above. The "Gazette" cites James and Hovenden's Loyalist units participating in the engagement, while Smith states it was about 30 light horse from the Royal Pennsylvania Militia under a Captain Kerr that accompanied Simcoe on the march (the Royal Pennsylvania Militia is also known variously as Provincials, Philadelphia Light Dragoons, and Pennsylvania Dragoons.) Smith refers to Captain Richard Hovenden as raising one company of the Royal Militia, the other company was raised by Captain Jacob James of Chester County. Smith also mention a Captain Evan Thomas who raised a company known as the Bucks County Volunteers.) The "Gazette" states 500 militia made up Lacey's force, while Smith using returns from the Pennsylvania Archives approximates Lacey's force at 333 men; 300 fit for duty, 33 were sick or on furlough. Not included in these figures were two or three light horsemen known to be in camp, plus Lacey's personal staff, including his aide Major William Means, and his assistant commissary, Captain John Downey. The "Gazette" reports 80 to 100 dead, while Lacey's May 4, 1778 report states 26 killed.

External links

* [http://k3dn.org/rev_war.htm 225th Anniversary Celebration Reenactment of the Battle of Crooked Billet]
* [http://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/battles/780501.htm MyRevolutionaryWar.com: The Battle of Crooked Billet]
* [http://www.geocities.com/oldebucks/crooked_billet.html The Battle at Crooked Billet Tavern]