General George Washington from the Winter Encampment at Valley Forge: A Rare Free Frank Autograph

On March 28 and 29, word of two important events reached Valley Forge. The first was the news that on February 6, France and the United States had signed a Treaty of Alliance in Paris. This meant recognition of American independence, as well as the eventual arrival of supplies, munitions and French troops to participate in the war. The second was information that four British regiments were believed to have left New York by ship, possibly bound for Philadelphia to aid in an attack on the American encampment. Washington considered acting first and proposing an offensive. According to “Ordeal at Valley Forge” by John Stoudt, knowing that he must act on both the offensive and defensive, and soon, Washington “busies himself late into the night with plans for the next campaign.” So we can see that Washington was already shifting from thinking about defense and turning his attention to the offensive.

John Lacey served as an officer in a Pennsylvania regiment of militia, with which he fought at the Battles of Germantown and Matson’s Ford. He gained such a reputation for skill and courage that Pennsylvania Supreme Executive made him a Brigadier General of Pennsylvania Militia on January 9, 1778. At that time Lacey was named to command the Pennsylvania militia covering the northern approaches to Philadelphia between the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers, and was responsible for intercepting parties of Tories and farmers entering the city, and for keeping an eye out for information on the British forces in and around Philadelphia. His force was small, but Lacey nevertheless hoped to cause trouble for the British, writing Washington on April 27, 1778, from Crooked Billet, where he had just stationed his troops: “I hope in a few days to be able to annoy the Enemy should they continue their late practice in coming through the Country.” But repeated small-scale raids had demonstrated to the British the weakness of Lacey’s force, and Lacey’s movement to Crooked Billet made him vulnerable to attack. Accordingly, on the night of April 30 two columns of British troops left Philadelphia and approached Crooked Billet under cover of darkness, determined to seize the opportunity to surprise the unsuspecting Americans. The British force was 800 men, among them 100 dragoons, sent in two columns.

The Americans were surprised, but Lacey’s men spotted the Queen’s Rangers and began to retreat before the British infantry was in position. A member of the British force wrote: “One of the detachments was spotted by the enemy before the second one arrived, whereupon [Lacey’s militia] made a hasty retreat…The first detachment, with the dragoons, eager for some action, attacked the enemy, who, however, fled in such haste that our infantry could not catch up with them. But the 100 dragoons assaulted so furiously that they captured 53 and left 30 killed on the field…We had only a few wounded. The encampment of huts of the enemy was set on fire and 10 wagons, which were loaded with baggage, etc., were brought in by our men.”

Lacey reported this debacle to Washington in a letter sent on May 2, saying: “My Camp was Surrounded Yester. Morning by Day Light With a body of the Enemy who appeared on all Quarters. My Scouts neglected the preceding night to patrol the Roads as they were ordered, but lay in Camp till Near day…The officer who Commanded Says he Was So Near the Enemy before he spied them, that he thought it dangerous to fire, but Sends off one of his party to alarm the Camp who did not Come. On the Disobedience & Misconduct of this officer, I have to Lay my Misfortunes. The Alarm was So Sudden I had Scarsely time to mount my Horse before the Enemy was within Musket Shot of My Quarters…My Loss is Near thirty Killed & wounded the numbers taken Prisoner cannot be assertained I think it cannot be many – Several were inhumanly Butchered after they had Surrendered…”

Washington responded the next day, showing impatience with the fact that the Americans were surprised, insisting that anyone responsible for that surprise be courtmartialed, and then insisting that Lacey take a more aggressive stance, as he [Washington] would have done. Document signed, free frank, May 3, 1778, from Valley Forge, to Lacey.