The Battle of Crooked Billet, was fought on May 1, 1778, near Crooked Billet, Pennsylvania (present-day Hatboro), as part of the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War. In the skirmish action, the British launched a surprise attack against Brigadier General John Lacey and the Pennsylvania Militia, who were literally caught sleeping. The British inflicted significant damage, and the militia was forced to retreat into neighboring Bucks Country. It is commonly misconstrued that Lacey was relieved of command after the battle. This is not true, however, as his command was only temporary for the winter and was to continue up and until Brigadier General James Potter returned from leave in the spring. After Potter returned, Lacey retained his rank in the Pennsylvania Militia and was soon on active duty. He was assigned to harrass the British rear as they marched north through the Jersies after the evacuation of Philadelphia in June, 1778. Lacey was then assigned to mobilize the milita along the Susquehanna River to guard the Pennsylvania frontier against Indian incursions. Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Dutch Republic, Spain, American Indians Kingdom of Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... York Road Northbound, Hatboro, PA Hatboro is a borough located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. ... Official language(s) English, Pennsylvania Dutch Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... John Lacey (b 1756 - ?) was an American commander during the American Revolution. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Henry Clinton The Philadelphia campaign (1777–1778) was a British initiative in the American Revolutionary War. ... Combatants United States Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Strength 10,600 17,000 Casualties 250 killed, 750 wounded, 400 captured 89 killed, 487 wounded The Battle of Brandywine was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on September 11, 1777, near Chadds Ford on Brandywine Creek in Delaware... The Paoli Massacre is the name given to an incident during the American Revolutionary War. ... , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Germantown]] || result = inconclusive || combatant1 = Continental Army || combatant2 = Great Britain|Hessian Forces || commander1 = George Washington || commander2 = William Howe || strength1 = 13,000 || strength2 = 8,000 || casualties1 = 152 killed, 521 wounded, 400 captured || casualties2 = 71 killed, 450 wounded, 14 missing |}} |- | |} The Battle of Germantown was a battle in the American Revolutionary... Combatants Continental Army Colonial militia Great Britain German mercenaries Commanders George Washington William Howe Charles Cornwallis W. von Knyphausen Strength 11,000 14,000 Casualties 90 killed or wounded 32 captured 60 killed or wounded Map of the Battle of White Marsh The Battle of White Marsh was a battle... Combatants Pennsylvania militia Great Britain Commanders John Lacey Charles Cornwallis Strength Unknown Unknown Casualties Unknown Unknown The Battle of Matsons Ford was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought December 11, 1777 in the area surrounding Matsons Ford (present-day Conshohocken and West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania). ... Recreation of a cabin in which soldiers would have lived at Valley Forge Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, was the site of the camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War. ... This article should belong in one or more categories. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders George Washington Henry Clinton Strength 13,462 13,059 Casualties 152 killed, 300 wounded, Total: 452 190 killed, 390 wounded, 576 captured, Total: 1,156 The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought in New Jersey on June 28, 1778, that... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) English, Pennsylvania Dutch Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... York Road Northbound, Hatboro, PA Hatboro is a borough located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Henry Clinton The Philadelphia campaign (1777–1778) was a British initiative in the American Revolutionary War. ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Dutch Republic, Spain, American Indians Kingdom of Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... John Lacey (b 1756 - ?) was an American commander during the American Revolution. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Battle

The battle occurred in Hatboro and Warminster, and it was fought after Washington's defeat at the Battle of Brandywine and after the British had occupied Philadelphia. On January 9, 1778, John Lacey was appointed Brigadier General by the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council and given command of a small body of militia with the aim of interrupting British supply lines, especially those reaching Philadelphia. Lacey was promised 1,000 men to patrol a vast area north of the city between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Due to short 6 week term enlistments, Lacey's force flucuated between 53 and 600 men fit for duty. Lacey was instructed not to remain in one place very long, so all through the winter, he moved his camp, generally every three days. During the last week of April, 1778 Crooked Billet, now Hatboro, was the headquarters of Lacey and became the target of the British commander in Philadelphia, General William Howe. The British dispatched a joint force of British troops on the night of April 30, surprising the American forces in an attempt to cut them off with a "pincer" type movement. The Americans were soon routed and forced to retreat into Warminster, losing their supplies and equipment at their bivouac site. York Road Northbound, Hatboro, PA Hatboro is a borough located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. ... Warminster Township is a township located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. ... Combatants United States Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Strength 10,600 17,000 Casualties 250 killed, 750 wounded, 400 captured 89 killed, 487 wounded The Battle of Brandywine was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on September 11, 1777, near Chadds Ford on Brandywine Creek in Delaware... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Lexington Minuteman representing militia minuteman John Parker Militia is the activity of one or more citizens organized to provide defense or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ... Sir William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe PC (August 10, 1729 – July 12, 1814) was an English General who was Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American Revolutionary War, one of the three Howe brothers. ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining. ...

An account of the battle, published on May 5 in Philadelphia's Royal Pennsylvania Gazette, reads as follows: May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ...

"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."

Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... French dragoon, 1745. ...

Opposing forces

Loyalist/Royalist

• Queen's American Rangers were the primary British force, who also were accused by the Americans of battlefield atrocities by murdering nine prisoners of war by burning them alive.
• 37th Regiment of Foot and 17th Light Dragoons
• Pennsylvania Royal Militia

Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ...

American forces

• Bucks County Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia under Captain Pugh
• Cumberland County Regiments of Pennsylvania Militia under Colonels Watts and Smith
• Also some soldiers were from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (then part of Philadelphia County)

Cumberland County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania and is one of four counties comprising the greater Harrisburg metropolitan area. ...

Aftermath

As a result of this engagement, the American forces lost ten to 13 wagons full of much-needed supplies, and Lacey had almost 20% of his force killed, wounded or taken prisoner.

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." ^[1]

Almost immediately, reports surfaced that British 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. ^[2] 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." ^[3] May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... Willam Maxwell (1733 - Nov 4, 1796) was a Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. ... Sir William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe PC (August 10, 1729 – July 12, 1814) was an English General who was Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American Revolutionary War, one of the three Howe brothers. ...

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." ^[4] John Armstrong (1717-1795) was an American civil engineer and soldier who served as a major general in the Revolutionary War. ...

On May 11, General Lacey was relieved of command of the Pennsylvania Militia by Washington, as Brigadier General James Potter had returned from leave. May 11 is the 131st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (132nd in leap years). ... Geraldine Somerville as Lily Potter, Adrian Rawlins as James Potter, and one of the Saunders triplets as one-year-old Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone In the Harry Potter series, James and Lily Potter are the late parents of Harry Potter. ...

Footnotes

Further reading

• Lieutenant Colonel John G. Simcoe Journal of the Operations of the Queen's Rangers Pages 56-60 (Reprint 1968) New Yorks Times

External links

• 225th Anniversary Celebration Reenactment of the Battle of Crooked Billet
• MyRevolutionaryWar.com: The Battle of Crooked Billet
• The Battle at Crooked Billet Tavern