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Battle Map

London cartographer William Faden published this map of the Battle of Germantown in 1784 based on a sketch done by British Army engineer John Hills. The map shows the movements of the British and American troops. The letter “F,” northwest of Germantown, marks the location of the British 2nd Battalion of Light Infantry during the opening moments of the battle. That is the approximate location where Richard Mansergh St. George was wounded. 

General Howe’s victory at Germantown came at a high price. The British reported 533 casualties, including 71 men killed. The wounded, such as St. George, filled the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia and makeshift hospitals in the city’s churches and houses.

Sketch of the surprise of German Town by the American forces commanded by General Washington October 4th 1777 
Published by William Faden 
March 12, 1784 
Ink, Watercolor, Paper
On Loan from a Private Philadelphia Collector

The British Hero of Germantown

Lemuel Francis Abbott’s circa 1786 portrait of Thomas Musgrave, the British officer who led the defense of Cliveden, served as the basis for this print. Abbott depicted Cliveden in the background on the right side of the portrait.

Thomas Musgrave
Engraved by George Sigmund Facius after Lemuel Francis Abbott
1797
Stipple Engraving
Museum of the American Revolution

Germantown Medal

Germantown became part of British military lore. One of the earliest British Army decorations for valor was created in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Musgrave and the 40th Regiment’s defense of Cliveden. General Sir George Osborn, the colonel of the 40th Regiment in the late-1780s, commissioned a medal to honor the defense of Cliveden. The medal depicts Cliveden being fired upon by Washington’s army and the British defenders pointing their muskets out of the second-floor windows. Officers of the 40th Regiment received silver medals, while enlisted men received bronze medals.

Medal 
Struck by John Milton
ca. 1789
Bronze
Courtesy of a Private Collector

Germantown Medal

Germantown became part of British military lore. One of the earliest British Army decorations for valor was created in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Musgrave and the 40th Regiment’s defense of Cliveden. General Sir George Osborn, the colonel of the 40th Regiment in the late-1780s, commissioned a medal to honor the defense of Cliveden. The medal depicts Cliveden being fired upon by Washington’s army and the British defenders pointing their muskets out of the second-floor windows. Officers of the 40th Regiment received silver medals, while enlisted men received bronze medals.

Medal 
Struck by John Milton
ca. 1789
Bronze
Courtesy of a Private Collector

Buttons from the Battlefield

In 1985, archaeologists excavated these small buttons from the skeleton of Private John Waites of the 52nd Regiment’s light infantry company. These buttons once secured Waites’s light infantry jacket. Waites served under Richard Mansergh St. George at Germantown but was killed in action and buried on the battlefield.

Buttons
1770s 
Pewter
Courtesy of the Germantown Historical Society Collection at Historic Germantown

52nd Regiment Button

This button is a larger example of the same style of regimental button found on the skeleton of Private John Waites of the 52nd Regiment of Foot. Soldiers of the regiment wore these larger buttons on their coats.

Button
1770s
Pewter
Courtesy of Don Troiani 

William Walcott’s Gorget

William Walcott wore this gorget during his 17 years of service in the British Army. While serving as lieutenant colonel and commander of the 5th Regiment, Walcott was mortally wounded during the fighting at Germantown. He died from his wound on November 16, 1777. 

Gorget
ca. 1760 
Silver 
Courtesy of Nick Manganiello

William Walcott’s Gorget

William Walcott wore this gorget during his 17 years of service in the British Army. While serving as lieutenant colonel and commander of the 5th Regiment, Walcott was mortally wounded during the fighting at Germantown. He died from his wound on November 16, 1777. 

Gorget
ca. 1760 
Silver 
Courtesy of Nick Manganiello