Breaking Down Xavier della Gatta's Battle of Germantown Painting

 

Follow up to the post in the Paoli action.  Germantown is a fascinating battle  Washington plan something similar to Trenton with a number if converging columns   That it did not work is due to a too ambitious plan, the fig and a very spirited defense by the Light Infantry battalions and the 40th holding the Chew house.  One continental love brigadier drinking too much didn’t help!!!

A fascinating action and here are some details to make it more interesting  

1. Washington's Army

Regiments from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware led the attack at Germantown. Washington’s total assault force included about 8,000 Continental Army troops and 3,000 militiamen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey.

2. Lieutenant Richard St. George and Corporal George Peacock

Corporal George Peacock is rescuing the wounded Richard St. George from the battlefield. For his heroic effort, St. George presented Peacock with 50 guineas (gold coins), the equivalent of three years’ pay for a corporal.

3. General Sir William Howe

This officer on horseback is believed to be General Sir William Howe. According to Martin Hunter, when General Howe saw the British light infantry retreating from Washington’s army, he exclaimed “For shame, Light Infantry! I never saw you retreat before!” Howe eventually rallied his 8,000 troops, called up reinforcements from Philadelphia, and forced the American Army to retreat.

4. Beggarstown

Northwest of Germantown is the village of Beggarstown (now the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia). Washington’s army attacked the British on Oct. 4 on the main road that connected Beggarstown and Germantown, now called Germantown Avenue.

5. African American Trumpeter

This light infantry trumpeter may be a man who ran away from slavery to follow the British Army. Many enslaved men and women saw the British Army as a path to freedom. Those who followed the army worked in various positions, including officers’ servants, laundresses, and wagon drivers (shown above to the right). A few men served as musicians, such as this trumpeter, to help the British Army communicate its orders in camp and on the battlefield.

6. British Wounded

This wagon driver of African descent is evacuating British light infantrymen to Philadelphia for medical treatment. After being rescued from the battlefield at Germantown, Richard St. George was also carted into the city. Eyewitnesses reported that it took 200 wagonloads to bring the casualties from Germantown to the makeshift hospitals in Philadelphia.

7. Cliveden

This brick building is Xavier della Gatta’s representation of Cliveden, the home of Philadelphia lawyer Benjamin Chew. In reality, Cliveden (which is now a historic site, shown in the photograph below) is made of stone and is much larger. Della Gatta’s painting shows the 40th Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Musgrave entering the mansion and preparing to defend it. The 40th Regiment defended the house from intense artillery fire and 10 infantry assaults over a span of about two hours. One observer said the “Englishmen fought like lions.”

Based on Stephen Gilbert's article:

"An analysis of the Xavier della Gatta paintings of the Battles of Paoli and Germantown 1777" part 1

https://www.academia.edu/44087628/_The_Battle_of_Paoli_Stephen_R_Gilbert_An_Analysis_of_the_Xavier_della_Gatta_Paintings_of_the_Battles_of_Paoli_and_Germantown_1777_Part_I_Military_Collector_and_Historian_vol_XLVI_no_3_Fall_1994_98_108