The Virginia Gazette

ANNAPOLIS, September 18.

Extract of a letter from Philadelphia, dated Sept. 13, 1777.

"No doubt, before this reaches you, you will hear various accounts of the late action, but you may depend the enemy paid dear for the ground they got. I saw General Maxwell at Chester; he informed me, that he, with 500 men, crossed early in the morning over the Brandywine, and lay in ambush for the enemy, in which he succeeded, and left 400 of them dead on the field before he crossed the Brandywine. The engagement began early in the morning, and continued till late in the evening; he says the enemy lost at least 2000 men. We have lost (killed, wounded, and taken) not above five or six hundred. General Cornwallis commanded the column which carried our lines; here our people made them fall like blackbirds. General Sullivan's division was fired on before they could form. The morning after the engagement many of our troops came up, and are now joining the army. General Washington this moment left this place, and is gone to Germantown, where, and on the banks of the Schuylkill, all the army is to be encamped. Three thousand militia from the Jerseys, 1500 regulars with General Putnam, several of the Lancaster militia, and three classes of the militia from this city, are now on their march. To-morrow, it is expected, will be the great day; how the event will be God only knows; however, much blood will be shed before Howe gets this place, if ever. Howe was all day yesterday burying his dead, and taking care of his wounded. Our officers and men are in high spirits. Not one Maryland officer was killed; Captain Joseph Reed was wounded in the arm."