British Evacuation of Philadelphia
through Gloucester Town
June 18th 1778
A large portion of the British Army; estimated to be over 10,000 troops, would evacuate Philadelphia on June 18th 1778 by way of Gloucester Point, on the western shore of the Delaware River to Gloucester Town NJ.
The British had taken control of Philadelphia in September of 1777 after they defeated the Continental Army at the Battle of Brandywine. George Washington would move his army to Valley Forge in late Dec. 1777 and would remain there until after the British would leave Philadelphia.
As the French formally entered the war, the British decided to consolidate their armed force at New York City where they could have the full support of the Royal Navy. They would move most of the army by land across New Jersey, while a small portion of the army would return to New York City by transport ships.
The British also agreed to move many of the loyalist residents of Philadelphia to New York City. This created a logistic problem for the British. They needed to have a large wagon train which would slow down the army. This wagon train would be moved across the Delaware River at Cooper Point in present day City of Camden.
There at Cooper Point the British had created a base of operations in the Spring of 1778 which the wagon train could be assemble over serval weeks.
As the all of the heavy baggage was move either by ship enroute to New York City or by wagon to Cooper's Point; the British need to keep of large portion of the army in Philadelphia guarding against the American Continental Army attacking them as they evacuated Philadelphia.
On the night of June 17th, 1778, the British would move all of their troops remaining in Philadelphia in to the 12 redoubts that they had built across the northern portion of Philadelphia. These redoubts were small, interlocking fortification stretching the Schuylkill River to the Delaware River.
British General Henry Clinton was the Commander-in-Chief for North America the British force as they evacuated Philadelphia.
The list of British regiments and order of the evacuation is documented by British Major John Andre in his journal.
"Operations of the British Army under Lieut. Gen. Sir Henry Clinton in the Year 1778
In consequence of the determination taken to evacuate Philadelphia the 5th Brigade (27th, 28th, 1st, 46th and 55th Regiments) were passed over the Delaware at Coopers Ferry and the Waggons with provision and Stores for the March parked there under their Cover.
On the 17th The Army received Orders to parade at 6 in the afternoon at their Brigade parades; from these they were marched to the works, behind which they lay on their Arms
18th Before Day break Genl. Grant with the 1st and 2nd Brigade, and the Hessian Grenadiers, marched in different Columns to Gloucester point where he crossed the Delaware in flat boats.
At sunrise the 3d and 4th Brigades and the Guard were put in motion and came to Gloucester point where they also crossed. The Grenadiers and Light Infantry passed last. The Vigilant was stationed a little above the point and her guns could graze the neck of land thro' which the troops passed, so as to render the embarkation very secure; no shot was fired nor did an enemy appear until the whole were on the opposite shore.
The 46th and 55th marched the same morning from Cooper Ferry to Gloucester point where they joined their respective Brigades.
As soon as the troops were passed, Gen. Knyphausen with the Hessian Grenadiers and the 1st and 2d Brigades marched to Haddonfield. Lord Cornwallis with the Light Infantry"
As reported by American scouts from the Pennsylvania shore, British Troops with supporting Cavalry could still be seen at Gloucester Town as late as 1:30 PM
Before leaving Gloucester Town, the British would burn their scows ( flat-bottomed boats) that they used to cross the Delaware River.
