Thursday, March 09, 2006

The Paoli Massacre


2 Box Series
Difficulty: Very easy
Date Planted: November 13, 2005
Length of Walk: 1/2 mile


7/10/09 - The American is still in place.
The Englishman is missing.

To get to Monument Park in Malvern:

From Rte 29 and Rte 202, go south on Rte 29 toward Malvern. Turn Left on to
Lancaster Avenue (Rte 30). At the next light, turn Right on Old Lincoln
Hwy. Turn Right on Bridge Street (go over the Train Tracks). Turn Right
on King Street. At the light, turn Left on Warren Avenue. Proceed one
block, and turn Right on Monument Avenue. Continue on Monument, the
park will be on your Left.

This is a truly stroller capable search. Lil Milkmonster accompanied me on his first
letterbox plant and promptly fell asleep in his stroller.



September 21, 1777
Paoli Massacre – An American in Paoli
Brigadier General Anthony Wayne and his 1500 troops were preparing for battle
with the British who were supposedly headed for Philadelphia. The
troops rested, prepared their weapons, ate, and unwisely, made a lot of
light and smoke with their campfires. As the British stealthily
approached, sentries on horseback discovered them and rode quickly back
to the encampment shouting warning cries but it was too late – those
guarding the eastern perimeter were fatally attacked. As the remainder
of the camp began to wake up, they also began firing their rifles but
the gunfire simply lighted up their location. A terrible battle
followed, many Americans were fatally attacked and others were deformed
by the bayonets of the enemy. But one American found a safe hiding
spot.
On the east side of Monument Park, you will see two
cannons guarding the battlefield. Step towards the battle field, behind
the cannons and notice the small grove of trees to the south, before
you enter the woods. Most of these trees are fairly young but you will
see a few mature trees. One of these is shaped in a V with a welcome
hiding spot at its base. Here you will find the American soldier,
guarding his ground.

Paoli Massacre – An Englishman in Paoli
Major General Grey prepares his troops to attack the unsuspecting Americans
in Paoli. He orders them to remove the ammunition from their guns and
to prepare their bayonets for battle. This action earned him the name
of “No Flint Grey”. The British had been given the password to the
American camp by some Tories and were easily able to approach General
Wayne’s encampment. After destroying the troops guarding the eastern
perimeter they rushed towards the main encampment at 1 AM in the
morning. One young Redcoat remained in the woods, preparing to attack
any American who tried to escape.
To find the Englishman, enter the woods to the south of the American and
head east on the trail. You will notice several little trails leading back out onto the
battlefield. Most of these have story boards at the end of the trail.
The second one does not have a story board, instead, it has an
Englishman. Head towards the battlefield and notice on the right a
stump about three feet high, fifteen steps off of the trail. In this
stump, the Englishman faithfully guards his ground.

To read more about this gruesome battle between General Wayne and General
Lord Grey,
go to The Paoli Massacre.