Martins Tavern and The Battle of Brandywine

Martins Tavern and The Battle of Brandywine (HM19J6)

Location: West Chester, PA 19382 Chester County
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Country: United States of America
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N 39° 56.987', W 75° 40.877'

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Inscription

September 11, 1777

Major General John Sullivan sent a message to George Washington, stating that reports of a British attempt to cross the Brandywine north of the Continental Army were false. Sullivan met "Major Joseph Spear of the Militia who came (last night) This morning from a Tavern called Martin's on the forks of the Brandywine." Spear rode from Martin's Tavern to what is today Longwood Gardens without spotting the roughly 9,000 British who would soon pass to the south of Marshallton. This mistaken report led Washington to recall orders that may have changed the course of the battle.

Joseph Galloway's spy map and presence at the Battle of Brandywine provided British General Sir William Howe with the information needed to defeat Washington. Galloway was a former speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly and leader of Pennsylvania's Loyalists. His knowledge of the region around Martin's Tavern, most importantly key fords crossing each branch of the Brandywine, gave Howe the opportunity to nearly surround the Continental Army. The Americans were not without local intelligence. Washington had at his disposal militia commander, John Hannum, and was eventually warned of Howe's plan by Squire Thomas Cheyney, both of whom are mentioned as having spent the previous night at Martin's Tavern. This map is the first drawing to record the exact location of Martin's Tavern along the Strasburg Road.
Details
HM NumberHM19J6
Tags
Year Placed2006
Placed ByFriends of Martins Tavern
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Tuesday, October 21st, 2014 at 6:21am PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)18S E 441803 N 4422405
Decimal Degrees39.94978333, -75.68128333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 39° 56.987', W 75° 40.877'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds39° 56' 59.22" N, 75° 40' 52.62" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)610, 484
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 550-598 Northbrook Rd, West Chester PA 19382, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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