Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., to
Thomas Wharton, President, Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania
May 4, 1778

Camp near Neshaminy Bridge, York Road, May 4th, 1778.

Sir,

My Camp was surrounded on the morning of the first Ins^t by Day Light, which lay near Crooked Billet, with a body of the Enemy, who appeared on all quarters, my scouts had neglected the proceeding Night to Patrole [sic] the Roads as they were ordered, but lay in Camp till near day, tho [sic] their orders were to leave it by 2 o'Clock in the morning; one of the Parties, Commanded by a Lieutenant, met the Enemy near two miles from the Camp, but never gave us the alarm, he makes his excuse that he was so near them before he espyed [sic] them, that he thought himself in danger of being cut to peices [sic] by their Horse should he fire, but sends off a man to give notice that the Enemy were approaching, who did not come; on the disobedience & misconduct of this & other officers of the scouts I have to lay my misfortunes.

The alarm was so sudden I had scarcely time to mount my Horse before the Enemy was within musket shot of my Quarters. I Observed that the party in my Rear had got into Houses & behind Fences, their numbers appearing nearly equal to mine I did not think it advisable to attack them in that situation, especially as another Body appeared in my front to the east of the Billet, and not knowing I had to contend with, I thought it best to open my way under cover of a Wood to the left of my Camp toward Coll. Harts, for which my little party moved in Columns, the Baggage following in the Rear; I had not passed far before my Flanking Parties began to change shot with the Enemy, I kept moving on till I made the Wood, when a party of both foot & Horse came up the Byberry Road and attacked my right Flank, the party came from the Billet fell upon my Rear, the Horse from the Rear of my Camp came upon my left flank; a Body of Horse appearing in my front, we made a stand in this Woods and gave them some warm fires, which forced them to retire; their Horse suffered considerably, as they charged us and were severely repulsed; their strength gathering from all Quarters I thought it beat to move on, which I did with the loss of Baggage, the Horse giving way in the Front as we advanced. We continued skirmishing for upwards of two miles, when I made a turn to the left which intirely [sic] extricated myself from them, I came into the York Road near the Cross Roads, and moved slowly down towards the Billet, in hopes to take some advantage of them on that quarter where they least expected me, but I found that they had retired toward the City; my people behaved well, my loss is upward of thirty Killed & Wounded, some were Butchered in a manner the most brutal savages could not equal, even while living some were thrown into Buckwheat straw, and the straw set on fire, the Clothes were burnt on others, and scarcely one without a dozen Wounds with Bayonets & Cutlasses.

The Enemies loss is not known, but is currently reported one field Officer is among the slain, we took three of their Horses, five are left dead on the field, their Riders either killed or wounded.

You will observe in the inclosed [sic] return that fifty eight is [sic] missing, the greatest part of which I believe has run home, the rest are taken Prisoners.

The times of the Militia Light Horse is all expired and have left me, they have been of infinite service to me, and for which I now feel the loss; twenty Horse is better than fifty Foot to make discovery & give intelligence.

I remain with respect
your Exc^ys most Ob^t H'ble Serv^t,

John LACEY, Jr., B.G.

Directed,

On publick [sic] service.
His Excell^y Thomas WHARTON, Esq^r, Lancaster.