Germantown order of battle

The Battle of Germantown on 4 October 1777 pitted a 9,000-man British army under General William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe against an 11,000-strong American army commanded by Major General George Washington. After an initial advance, the American reserve allowed itself to be diverted by 120 English soldiers holding out in the Benjamin Chew House. A heavy morning fog disoriented the American assault columns and led to a friendly fire incident between elements of Major General John Sullivan's right column and Major General Nathanael Greene's left column. At about this time, the American attack lost impetus and both columns retreated. Meanwhile, two wide flanking columns numbering 3,000 American militia had little effect on the outcome. American losses was numbered at 673 soldiers killed and wounded plus 400 captured, while the British suffered 520 casualties.[1]

Battle of Germantown

British Army order of battle
Sir William Howe

General Sir William Howe (9,000)[2]

Picket

Brigadier General Sir William Erskine

Right Wing

General Sir William Howe

  • Guards Brigade: Brigadier General Edward Mathew[6][7]
    • Elements of 1st Foot Guards, 2nd Foot Guards, and 3rd Foot Guards Regiments
    • 1st Battalion (488)
    • 2nd Battalion (451)
      • Stephen's company (88)
      • Murray's company (89)
      • O'Hara's company (87)
      • Martin's company (91)
      • Light company, Lieutenant Colonel Osborn (96)[9][10]
  • 1st Brigade: Major General James Grant
    • 4th Foot
    • 28th Foot
    • 49th Foot
  • 2nd Brigade: Major General Grant
    • 5th Foot
    • 27th Foot
    • 55th Foot
  • Reinforcements: Lieutenant General Charles, Earl Cornwallis, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Monckton[11]
    • 1st Grenadier Battalion
    • 2nd Grenadier Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Monckton
  • Unbrigaded:

Left Wing
Wilhelm von Knyphausen

Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen

  • Hessian Jaegers: Lieutenant Colonel Ludwig von Wurmb
  • 3rd Brigade: Major General Charles Grey
    • 15th Foot
    • 17th Foot
    • 44th Foot
  • 4th Brigade: Major General James Agnew †
    • 33rd Foot
    • 37th Foot
    • 46th Foot
    • 64th Foot
  • Hessian Brigade: Major General Johann Daniel Stirn
    • Erbprinz Infantry Regiment
    • Donop Infantry Regiment
  • Reinforcements: Colonel Carl von Donop[12]
    • Grenadier Battalion Minningerode
    • Grenadier Battalion Linsing

British and Hessian officers
James GrantCharles GreyRobert AbercrombyLudwig von WurmbSir William Erskine

American Army order of battle
George Washington

Major General George Washington (8,000 regulars, 3,000 militia, 200 cavalry)[13][14]

Right Wing Militia

Brigadier General John Armstrong Sr. (1,500)[15]

  • Pennsylvania Militia Brigade: Brigadier General James Potter
  • four light cannons
  • 1st Philadelphia City Troop

Left Wing Militia

Brigadier General William Smallwood (1,500)

  • Maryland Militia Brigade: Brigadier General Smallwood
  • New Jersey Militia Brigade: Brigadier General David Forman

Right Wing Continentals
John Sullivan

Major General John Sullivan

Anthony Wayne

Left Wing Continentals
Nathanael Greene

Major General Nathanael Greene

Charles Scott

Reserve
Lord Stirling

Major General William Alexander, Lord Stirling (1,200)

American officers
William SmallwoodThomas ConwayHenry KnoxJohn Hoskins StonePeter Muhlenberg

Notes
  1. Eggenberger, 166–167
  2. Johnson, 70
  3. McGuire (2007), 102
  4. McGuire (2007), 61. McGuire listed the light companies by regiment. Erskine took the 2nd Light Infantry on patrol very early, but found nothing.
  5. McGuire (2007), 58
  6. McGuire (2006), 397. This brigade, with a nominal strength of 1,000 men, was drawn by lottery from the three foot guard regiments.
  7. McGuire (2006), 379. The author gave the Guards Brigade company organization and strength for September 12, 1777.
  8. McGuire (2006), 6. The author named the company commander Osborn.
  9. McGuire (2007), 234. Captain Thomas Twistleton led the light company but missed most of the campaign.
  10. McGuire (2007), 57. Osborn led both flank companies at Germantown.
  11. McGuire (2007), 75, 120. Monckton was in command of the British grenadiers, while Cornwallis led them from their quarters in Philadelphia to the battle. They arrived late and joined the pursuit.
  12. McGuire (2007), 14. Donop led the Hessian grenadiers.
  13. Johnson, 70. Johnson listed the American brigades and cavalry units, but not the foot regiments.
  14. McGuire (2007), 50. McGuire estimated the strengths of the divisions and brigades.
  15. McGuire (2007), 49
  16. McGuire (2007), 69. McGuire gave the brigade commanders and the regiments of Sullivan's division.
  17. McGuire (2007), 111
  18. McGuire (2007), 71. McGuire gave the brigade commanders and the regiments of Wayne's division.
  19. McGuire (2007), 65. McGuire listed the regiments in Conway's brigade.
  20. McGuire (2007), 55. McGuire listed the regiments in McDougall's brigade.
  21. McGuire (2007), 116
  22. McGuire (2007), 56. McGuire listed the brigades and regiments in Greene's division.
  23. Wright, 283–292. The author listed the composition of all four Virginia brigades.
  24. Sanchez-Saavedra, E.M. (1978). A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations in the American Revolution. Richmond: Virginia State Library. pp. 29–72. ISBN 0-88490-003-7.
  25. McGuire (2007), 94. McGuire noted that Woodford was absent and that the acting commander is not known.
  26. Wright, 112. Wright gave the composition of the 3rd Virginia Brigade. He also listed the numbers of the four Virginia brigades and their commanders.
  27. McGuire (2007), 93. This officer is named.
  28. Wright, 108. All nine North Carolina regiments reached Philadelphia in July 1777. However, their aggregate strength was only 131 officers and 963 enlisted men. Only two of the regiments numbered over 200 men.
  29. Wright, 255–257. All four regiments were assigned to the New Jersey Brigade on 22 May 1777.
  30. McGuire (2007), 89. This colonel is misnamed Aaron Ogden.
  31. McGuire (2007), 87
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References
  • Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles. New York: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-24913-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Johnson, Curt (1975). Battles of the American Revolution. London: Rand McNally & Company. ISBN 0-528-81022-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • McGuire, Thomas J. (2006). The Philadelphia Campaign, Volume I. Mechanicsburg, Penn.: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-0178-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • McGuire, Thomas J. (2007). The Philadelphia Campaign, Volume II. Mechanicsburg, Penn.: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-0206-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Wright, Robert K. Jr. (1989). The Continental Army. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. ISBN 0-16-001931-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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