Birmingham gears up for battle re-enactment

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on May 7, 2014

Volunteers in Birmingham Township are in the final states of their preparation for the May 17 and 18 re-enactment of the Battle of Brandywine.

Cannon, cavalry and infantry will do mock battle at Sandy Hollow, some of the same ground where actual combat took place on Sept. 11, 1777. In that battle, upwards of 26,000 troops took part. It was the largest land battle of the War of Independence.

While the British won the field that day, they were so weary that they rested for five days, giving members of the Continental Congress much needed time to flee Philadelphia and avoid capture.

Another significant point is that British Gen. William Howe was to have taken his force to Saratoga, but chose to attempt taking Philadelphia. Having his forces here, he could not support British Gen. John Burgoyne at Saratoga. The American victory at Saratoga led the French to enter the war on the side of the colonials.

Events for the re-enactment begin at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 17 with the actual mock battle scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Events Sunday also begin at 10 a.m. with the re-enactment at 1:30 p.m. The full schedule can be found here. http://www.brandywine2014.com/#!page2/cjg9

But combat and politics were not the only aspect of the 1777 battle. The lives of the pacifist Quakers were also disrupted. Part of the battle involved the Birmingham Quaker Meetinghouse where colonial soldiers ducked for cover behind a cemetery wall and where some troops were treated for their wounds. There is also a mass grave at the meetinghouse.

During the re-enactment, members of the meeting will be putting on a play based on Dorthea Jensen’s book “The Riddle of Penncroft Farm” that delves into the lives of civilians before, during and after the battle.

In addition, there will be a party Saturday evening. The Freedom Bivouac Revel will go from 5 to 8 p.m. While there’s no charge for the daily events, admission for the revel is $50.

Chester County Art Association’s plein air artists will also be capturing the sights and activities both days.

The daily events wrap up at 4 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.