Paoli Massacre

Battle of Paoli
Part of the American Revolutionary War
A Dreadful scene of havock by Xavier della Gatta, 1782, commissioned for a British officer who participated in the attack
Date September 20, 1777 Location Willistown Township / Malvern, Pennsylvania Result British victory
Belligerents
United States	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Anthony Wayne	Charles Grey
Strength
2,500 men 1,500 regulars 1,000 militia	1,200 men engaged 600 in support 2 miles away
Casualties and losses
201 killed or wounded 71 captured	4 killed, 7 wounded

Paoli Battlefield Site and Parade Grounds
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The present-day monument at the site of the battle
Show map of Pennsylvania Show map of the US
Location	Roughly bounded by Warren, and Monument Aves., and Sugartown Rd., Malvern, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°01′47″N 75°31′06″W / 40.02972°N 75.51833°W / 40.02972; -75.51833Coordinates: 40°01′47″N 75°31′06″W / 40.02972°N 75.51833°W / 40.02972; -75.51833
Area	62.2 acres (25.2 ha)
Built	1817, 1877
Architect	John T. Windrim, Palmer C. Hughes
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals
NRHP Reference #	97001248
Added to NRHP	October 23, 1997

2,500 men

The Battle of Paoli (also known as the Battle of Paoli Tavern or the Paoli Massacre) was a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought on September 20, 1777, in the area surrounding present-day Malvern, Pennsylvania. Following the American retreats at the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of the Clouds, George Washington left a force under Brigadier General Anthony Wayne behind to monitor and harass the British as they prepared to move on the revolutionary capital of Philadelphia. On the evening of September 20, British forces under Major General Charles Grey led a surprise attack on Wayne's encampment near the Paoli Tavern. Although there were relatively few American casualties, claims were made that the British took no prisoners and granted no quarter, and the engagement became known as the "Paoli Massacre."

After the American defeat at the Battle of Brandywine, American Major General George Washington was intent on accomplishing two tasks. He wanted to protect Philadelphia from British forces under the command of Lieutenant General William Howe, and he needed to replenish the rapidly dwindling supplies and munitions stored in Reading, Pennsylvania. Washington withdrew across the Schuylkill River, marched through Philadelphia, and headed northwest. Since the Schuylkill was fordable only far upstream starting at Matson's Ford (present-day Conshohocken), Washington could protect both the capital and the vital supply areas to the west from behind the river barrier. Washington reconsidered, and recrossed the river to face the British, who had moved little since Brandywine, due to a shortage of wagons to carry their wounded and their baggage. After the Battle of the Clouds was aborted by bad weather on September 16, Washington again withdrew across the Schuylkill, leaving Brigadier General "Mad" Anthony Wayne's Pennsylvania Division at Chester, Pennsylvania. When the British columns passed by, Wayne followed, under orders from Washington to harass the British and attempt to capture all or part of their baggage train.