The First Battle of Daviston Part Two Cornwallis's Attack An AWI game using Washington's Wars

Cornwallis arrives in the late morning with his infantry and artillery at the edge of Big Stony Woods.. Discovering that the two Brigades he had ordered into attack holding position near Millers pond He ordered his errant Brigadiers to him. Lord Cornwallis clearly agitated that his march was tardy and that his orders weren’t carefully followed ,severely rebuked Colonel Fitzhugh for his bungled attack and made it clear his performance was unbecoming a British officer. He had better improve or dismissal and disgrace would follow him back to England. General Erskine added that had only the flank attack arrived on time the rebels would have been driven from the field as he only encountered a moderate militia force and no artillery. Cornwallis then asked why he wasn’t holding the town since he was pitted against so paltry a force. Erskine replied he had driven a third of the rebels from the field but didn’t have the infantry needed to clear the village proper. At this moment scouts reported Continental infantry approaching the town from the West. Cornwallis immediately ordered Fitzhugh to move his brigade to the left flank form up his light infantry screen and prepare to attack. Cornwallis himself added that he would take the center and support his effort. He then ordered Erskine to hold his position to pin whatever Rebels on the right until he received orders to advance into the town from Cornwallis himself.

General Stirling arrived with his Brigade around 10:30 am to the sound of musketry and cannon fire coming from the middle of town. Colonel Griffin reported he was holding the town and had driven off the attack on his left at the crossing at Little Mossy Creek and had repulsed an attack on the center of town by British regulars but lost one regiment in doing so and was short of ammunition. Stirling ordered one of his batteries to support Griffin and ordered some ammunition wagons brought up for Griffin’s Brigade. During this meeting scouts reported British forces near Big Stony Woods on the West side of town ,Stirling lost no time and moved his Brigade along a stone wall that ran from the West side of town to Travers farm. He then placed Hazlett’s Delaware Continentals on the left with the 2nd Company Pennsylvania State Artillery in the center and finally the 3^rd Pennsylvania Regiment to their right at Travers farm.

In Reserve he kept the 3^rd Virginia Continentals to support the line. Stirling was confident that his position was a strong one and as long as he had ammunition he should be able to hold  his position. In addition Griffin had the Chester County men holding a forward position in the churchyard which if needed could provide flank fire on any attacker in the fields to his front. At around noon British infantry were seen moving to the West along the edge of Big Stony Woods where they took up position in Farmer Nixon’s barley field South of the farm. Not long after they passed, British infantry and artillery emerged from the woods and took up position facing the Continental line awaiting orders to attack. Stirling steadied his men and ordered his artillery to fire. At 12:30 pm Cornwallis ordered his artillery to return fire and gave the advance orders to Colonel Fitzhugh. Fitzhugh still smarting from Cornwallis’s stern rebuke determined to regain favor as he ordered the 1^st Light Battalion forward with the 9^th Foot in support and the New Jersey Loyalists following the 9^th.Foot. The Light infantry quickly closed the distance crossed over the wooden fence lining the country lane midfield and began skirmishing with the Rebel line that had deployed no skirmishers.

The 9^th foot crossed the fence and held there while the Loyalists caught up and the Light battalion continued to harass the Continental line. The 45^th Foot spotted the men of Chester County hidden behind the hedge surrounding the Church and began firing on them to prevent them from firing on the flank of Fitzhugh’s attack. Under fire from the light infantry. the 3^rd Pennsylvania returned fire trying to force the light infantry back to no avail and the lights continued to close. The Royal artillery engaged the Pennsylvanian artillery in an attempt to silence their guns with most shots bouncing back and landing near the 3^rd Virginia Regiment who sidestepped as the balls slowly rolled along or harmlessly embedded themselves in the plow rows.

Cornwallis ordered his brigade to advance with the 45^th Foot on the right and the New York Loyalists advancing on their left. He then ordered the artillery forward to the country lane to support Fitzhugh’s rapidly advancing brigade. The 45^th Foot once it gained the wooden fence was halted by the fire from the Chester County men who still clung on to their position.

 The 45^th returned fire and began an firefight which lasted until the New York Loyalists advanced and threatened the right flank of the Rebel position forcing it to retire.

Meanwhile Fitzhugh prodded his men forward into assault position and ordered the lights to fallback and reform. To his right he saw the New York Loyalist advance and begin firing on the rebel line and on his left barely visible in the smoke he saw the ensign of the New Jersey Loyalists steadily advancing towards the stone wall.

To his immediate front his sight was obscured but as he glimpsed he saw the Rebel artillery fire and begin to reload he ordered the 9^th Foot to charge. The gunners busy realigning and reloading didn’t see the redcoats because of the smoke until they were almost upon them. The Pennsylvania gunners broke and ran heading to the rear past the 3^rd Virginia whose Colonel seeing redcoats starting to climb across the stone wall ordered his regiment to advance and fire in an effort to plug the gap in the line.

The 9^th’s charge had brought it into contact on the left wing of the 3^rd Pennsylvania who was currently in a firefight with the New Jersey Loyalists and the right wing of Hazlett’s Delaware Continentals also in a firefight with the New York Loyalists. Now to his front the 3^rd Virginia was advancing and firing upon him. Fitzhugh ordered the Regiment center companies to hold on the stone wall and return fire at the 3^rd Virginia.

Meanwhile in the churchyard the 45^th Foot advanced and began firing volleys at the Chester County men who returned fire supported by the guns of the Western Company New Jersey State Artillery placed by Griffin to cover the town center.

On the left flank of the attack the 1^st Light infantry reformed and advanced down the road in skirmish order in an attempt to flank the 3^rd Pennsylvania at Traver’s farm which they succeeded in doing bringing fire to bear into the now exposed flank of the 3^rd Pennslyvania.

The 3^rd Pennsylvania receiving fire from it front and right flank withdrew slowly to reestablish its line with the New Jersey Loyalists advancing into the spot vacated by their withdrawal. On the left flank, Hazlett under heavy pressure also fell back in an effort to reestablish the line.

In the center Fitzhugh seeing the Rebel line cracking grabbed the colors of the 9^th and shouting “For God and Country” charged the 3^rd Virginia who broke and ran to the rear. General Stirling tried to rally the 3^rd Pennsylvania but closely pursued by the British he was unable to successfully rally them. The 3rd Pennsylvania was now out of the fight and heading for a much safer place. The 3^rd Virginia after firing a volley was unable to halt the charge of the 9^th Foot and they too broke and ran. Hazlett retired his men slowly covering the panic stricken troops with well directed volleys until with the aid of the loaned artillery battery and the remains of Griffin’s Brigade he was able to break off action at around 530 pm and retreat towards the Delaware.

Losses

British 280 men killed wounded or missing

Continental  360 killed wounded or missing