Battle of Crooked Billet

John Lacey (who had been promoted to Brigadier General and commander of the Pennsylvania militia in January at the age of 23), was tasked by Washington with patrolling the region north of Philadelphia, between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers.

Washington wrote that militia stipulated by the state had never been above half kept up and that General Lacey had only 70 men left in the field.

In Philadelphia, General Howe ordered Simcoe, to "secure the country and facilitate the inhabitants bringing in their produce to market.

"[4] During the winter of 1778, British and Loyalist troops repeatedly led raids into Bucks County, despite the presence of Lacey and the militia.

[4] On the afternoon of April 30, he and Lieutenant Colonel Robert Abercromby led their contingent of troops out of Philadelphia and towards the Crooked Billet.

Surprised and outnumbered, the militia were soon routed and forced to retreat into Warminster, losing their supplies and equipment at their bivouac site.

An account of the battle, published on May 5 in Philadelphia's Royal Pennsylvania Gazette, reads as follows: On Thursday night last, a small party of the British infantry, dragoons, and Queen's rangers, with a few of Capt.

Washington requested that Lacey remain with the militia for a short time in order to familiarize Potter with the region.

"[9] Lacey's report to Major General John Armstrong Sr. claimed that: Some of the unfortunate, who fell into the merciless hands of the British, were more cruelly and inhumanely butchered.

Some of the surviving sufferers say they saw the enemy set fire to wounded while yet alive, who struggled to put it out but were too weak and expired under the torture.

John Graves Simcoe , commander of the Queen's Rangers.