During the Pennsylvania campaign of 1777, the Fifty-fifth Regiment was part of the Second Brigade, commanded by Major General Grant (Howe's Orderly Book, p 446). The light company of the 55th did duty with the Third Brigade of Light Infantry as part of Cornwallis' column under the infamous Major-General Grey (Fortescue, p 182).

On September 3rd, 1777, the 55th was at Head of Elk in Pennsylvania and came up to join the main army at Penncalder, or Aikin's Tavern three days later (Robertson, p 145). The regiment was part of Knyphausen's column at Brandywine (Marshall /Peckham, pp 52-53; Robertson, p 146).

Just prior to the battle at Germantown the British were encamped near the small town of Paoli, when they learned of a Rebel detachment in the vicinity. The rest of the story is best told by Major John Andre:

[September] 20th [1777]
Intelligence having been received of the situation of General Wayne and his design of attacking our Rear, a plan was concerted for surprising him, and the execution entrusted to Major General Grey. The troops for this service were the 40th and 55th regiments, under Colonel Musgrave, and the 2d Battalion Light Infantry, [and] the 42d and 44th Regiments under General Grey. General Grey's Detachment marched at 10 o'clock at night, that under Colonel Musgrave at 11[:00 p.m.]. No soldier of either was suffered to load; those who could not draw their pieces took out the flints. We knew nearly the spot where the Rebel Corps lay, but nothing of the disposition of their Camp. It was represented to the men that firing discovered us to the Enemy, hid them from us, killed our friends and produced a confusion favorable to the escape of the Rebels and perhaps productive of disgrace to ourselves. On the other hand, by not firing we knew the foe to be wherever fire appeared and a charge [with the bayonet] ensured his destruction; that amongst the Enemy those in the rear would direct their fire against whoever fired in front, and they would destroy each other. General Grey's Detachment marched by the road leading to White Horse, and took every inhabitant with them as they passed along. About three miles from Camp they turned to the left and proceeded to the Admiral Warren [Tavern], where, having forced intelligence from a Blacksmith, they came in upon the out sentries, piquet and Camp of the Rebels. The sentries fired and ran off to the number of four at different intervals. The piquet was surprised and most of them killed in endeavoring to retreat. On approaching the right of the Camp we perceived the line of fires, and the Light Infantry being ordered to form to the front, rushed along the line putting to the bayonet all they came up with, and, overtaking the main herd of the fugitives, stabbed great numbers and pressed on their rear till it was thought prudent to order them to desist. Near 200 must have been killed, and a great number wounded. Seventy-one Prisoners were brought off; forty of them badly wounded were left at different houses on the road. A Major, a Captain, and two Lieutenants were amongst the prisoners. We lost Captain Wolfe killed and one or two private men; four or five were wounded, one an Officer, Lieut. [Martin] Hunter of the 52d Light Company.

It was about 1 o'clock in the morning when the attack was made, and the Rebels were then assembling to move towards us, with the Design of attacking our baggage. Colonel Musgrave [with the 40th and 55th Regiments] marched a different way and took post on the Philadelphia Road at the Paoli. It was thought he would have first fallen in with their outposts. By our attacking them on the flank next to Colonel Musgrave's Post, they retired the opposite way and his Detachment saw nothing of them.

A second Brigade had joined Major Wayne the evening before, and 1,500 Militia under Smallwood lay at the White Horse [Tavern, about a mile west of the Rebel positions]. We took eight waggons and [their] teams with flour, biscuit and baggage; their guns we could not overtake. The Detachment returned to Camp by daybreak by the Paoli and the road Colonel Musgrave had marched.

SOURCE: Major Andre's Journal, (New York, New York Times & Arno Press) 1968, pp 49-51

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