The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

252 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1777.
meet that division, while he crossed and attacked Knyphausen in front. Before this order could be executed,
counter information was received. This contradiction
and uncertainty caused the order to be suspended. A
little after two o'clock, however, all doubt was removed.
Having taken a wide circuit of seventeen miles and
crossed two branches of the Brandywine above the
fork, Cornwallis had gained the heights near Birmingham meeting-house, within two miles of Sullivan's right
flank. Sullivan marched with the three divisions under
his command, being his own, Stephen's, and Stirling's,
and began to form his troops for action; but, before
the arrangement could be completed, Cornwallis opened
the attack with such impetuosity, that after a short resistance the right of the American line was broken, the
remainder thrown into confusion, and the whole forced
to a precipitate retreat. Some of them rallied, and took
another stand, where they maintained a short and spirited conflict, till again driven by a greatly superior force
from their ground.
The firing in this quarter was the signal for Knyphausen to cross the river, and assault the American intrenchments at Chad's Ford. He was met by General
Wayne, who defended the post with his usual gallantry;
but, at the head of a single division only, he was in no
condition to withstand half the British army. General
Greene with another division had removed to a central
point between Chad's Ford and Sullivan's scene of action,
where he could give support to either party as circumstances might require. Covering Sullivan's retreat, and
seizing a pass about a mile from Dilworth, he checked
the pursuit of the enemy, and sustained a warm engagement till dark. The firing then ceased. The
British remained on the field of battle, and the Americans retreated in much disorder by different routes to