Sep 20, 1777:
Redcoats kill sleeping Americans in Paoli Massacre
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On the evening of September 20, 1777, near Paoli, Pennsylvania, General Charles Grey and nearly 5,000 British soldiers launch a surprise attack on a small regiment of Patriot troops commanded by General Anthony Wayne in what becomes known as the Paoli Massacre. Not wanting to lose the element of surprise, Grey ordered his troops to empty their muskets and to use only bayonets or swords to attack the sleeping Americans under the cover of darkness.

With the help of a Loyalist spy who provided a secret password and led them to the camp, General Grey and the British launched the successful attack on the unsuspecting men of the Pennsylvania regiment, stabbing them to death as they slept. It was also alleged that the British soldiers took no prisoners during the attack, stabbing or setting fire to those who tried to surrender. Before it was over, nearly 200 Americans were killed or wounded. The Paoli Massacre became a rallying cry for the Americans against British atrocities for the rest of the Revolutionary War.

Less than two years later, Wayne became known as "Mad Anthony" for his bravery leading an impressive Patriot assault on British cliff-side fortifications at Stony Point on the Hudson River, 12 miles from West Point. Like Grey’s attack at Paoli, Wayne’s men only used bayonets in the 30-minute night attack, which resulted in 94 dead and 472 captured British soldiers.

Posted on Sun, Sep. 15, 2002
Redcoats' ruthless assault
Night bayonet attack sent Americans reeling.
By Michael D. Schaffer
Inquirer Staff Writer
Map and graphics provided by the Philadelphia Inquirer

Fourth in a series of articles recounting Philadelphia's days in the Revolutionary War.

The redcoated soldiers stalk through the rainy night as silent as predators.

And predators they are, bristling with sharp claws – bayonets, the principal weapon of the European infantryman.

Their quarry is a contingent of about 1,500 American troops under the command of Gen. Anthony Wayne, camped on a farm a few miles away from the Paoli Tavern.

The date is Sept. 21, 1777. It is shortly before 1 a.m.

In a few minutes the Redcoats will attack the American camp and the formal dance that is 18th-century warfare – a minuet of fifes and drums, battles fought by soldiers arrayed in stiff lines, and letters between opposing generals who sign themselves "your obedient servant" – will turn primal.

When the sun comes up, it will find about 150 Americans dead, wounded or captured. The rest of Wayne's troops are routed. The British suffer only a handful of casualties. The soldiers of the Continental Army will call this night's British rampage through their camp a massacre – the Paoli Massacre.

•

<<SNIP>>

When they meet the British again, the Americans will remember Paoli.

Contact Michael D. Schaffer at 215-854-2537 or mschaffer@phillynews.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epnqisvSCwo

thanks to Derek Black and his radio show for that little gem from Merle.

woody

By the way, my hope is we will reach a critical mass of places and at some point in the future we will be able to start designing group regional tours.

- WS

http://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/?id=25

I definitely understand the importance of your project and I'm going to spend some time driving around this Summer looking for locations.

I hate the current USA culture! Yuck! If you can even call it culture …

The Andy Devine day parade, the biggest in Kingman's calendar, starts several hours before the rodeo. It's typically held downtown. Lots of cowboys and cowgirls are typically in the parade.

Don't bring alcohol to the rodeo itself. There are events held in the restaurants and bars in Kingman afterwords where locals and the rodeo hands can tip a few back. Do bring water.

Bring sunscreen or (preferably) a broad brimmed hat. It's typically hot in September and there's no guarantee you'll be covered in the bleachers.

Play "spot the German tourist". We typically get a few interested in rodeos.