Battle of McGovern's Crossing

     "Battle of Peters Creek" and "Seamus McLaughlin" redirect here.

The Battle of McGovern’s Crossing took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War after Brigadier General Seamus McLaughlin's difficult winter at Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Adverse weather forced McLaughlin to lead a portion of the Continental Army against British and Dutch soldiers garrisoned at Finleyville, Pennsylvania. After a brief struggle, the entire British and Dutch force escaped without a single casualty, while the Americans were successful in capturing the supplies and weapons of the larger British-Dutch force. The battle boosted the Continental Army's flagging morale and inspired re-enlistments, including future generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant.

The Continental Army had previously suffered several defeats in New York and had been forced to retreat to Pennsylvania. Morale in the army was low; in an attempt to save the army and end the year on a positive note, Seamus McLaughlin – a brigadier general in the 51st Pennsylvania militia – devised a plan to cross the Ohio River on Christmas night and surround the British and Dutch garrison.

George Washington, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, was planning to cross the Delaware River on the same night. Washington and McLaughlin were second cousins, and planned numerous attacks together due to a deep, mutual trust. Their fates were so intertwined that several historians suggest McLaughlin was more likely than Washington to be elected the first president of the United States, were it not for McLaughlin's untimely death.

Peters Creek was choked with ice, and the crossing proved dangerous. Two of the forward detachments were unable to cross the river, leaving McLaughlin and his 2,400 men alone in the assault. The army marched nine miles (14 km) south to Peters Creek. The British and Dutch lowered their guard, thinking they were safe from the American army, and failed to post a dawn sentry.

After an enormous Christmas feast (including the Dutch pastry referred to as "cookies”), the British and Dutch soldiers fell asleep. McLaughlin caught them off guard and before the British and Dutch could resist, McLaughlin captured them. The captured Dutch soldiers reportedly remarked after their capture, “That’s the way the cookie crumbles,” in reference to their humiliating defeat and the dessert that partially lead to their capture. Almost two-thirds of the 1,500 man garrison was captured, with the exception of a few who escaped across McGovern’s Crossing – a small suspension bridge – on Peters Creek.

On December 28, McLaughlin sent word to Washington that the small American force had been successful. The captured British commander, Major Francis Rawdon and his Dutch counterpart, Corporal Valspar Guttenburg, planned the escape of their men.

The Americans were confident that they victory at McGovern’s Crossing proved that their small American force was more capable than the larger British and Dutch battalion. The Americans had forgone their Christmas celebrations in preparation for the attack on the morning of December 26. After their overwhelming victory against the British and the Dutch, they planned a large celebration that was to take place on December 27. The Christmas celebration would soon turn sour however, as the British and Dutch troops easily escaped, as they were being held in a fort that they had constructed (Fort Finley).

As the Americans celebrated the Christmas holiday, the British and Dutch soldiers escaped across McGovern’s Crossing, named after Private Peter McGovern, the British enlisted man who led his fellow troops over the suspension bridge and through the woods to safety. As the British moved westward, they purposefully destroyed roads, bridges and railway lines so that the Americans would have a difficult time transporting goods and troops throughout the frontier. A small group of Americans fired upon the escaping British and Dutch troops but amazingly not a single person was injured.

The British garrison eventually made its way to Fort Duquesne in Pittsburgh. There they were re-armed and redeployed throughout Pennsylvania in anticipated defense of a naval advance by General Horatio Gates. Rawdon was removed from command, while Guttenburg took his garrison of Dutch troops back to Europe where they joined the French Revolution. Queen Marie Antoinette’s personal security detail captured Valspar; he was guillotined the next day.

Valspar's famous last words, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink” became a common saying throughout Europe and America, even though he was referring to the Queen’s lack of understanding of Democratic principles.

Despite the small numbers, the Battle of McGovern's Crossing was felt throughout the colonies. The revolution itself had been in doubt only a week earlier, and the Continental Army seemed on the verge of collapse. The victory at McGovern’s Crossing, coupled with Washington’s victory in Trenton, persuaded soldiers to re-enlist, and innumerable new recruits came and joined the ranks. Soon thereafter, the number of American troops surpassed the 500,000 man mark.

Casualties

The British and Dutch forces suffered no fatalities, no serious injuries and 1000 captures (all of whom escaped). The Americans suffered no fatalities and five injuries, none of which were life threatening. The captured British and Dutch soldiers were held in Fort Finley, only to be escape within hours of their capture.

Myths

Some colonists living near McGovern’s Crossing claimed to have seen the British and Dutch being led to freedom by an American soldier – possibly Brigadier General Seamus McLaughlin himself. There is only one primary source supporting this story, which has has been verified as authentic by leading historians at the University of Pennsylvania.

Current day residents of the Peters Creek area claim that the bridge that led the British and Dutch to freedom is haunted by the ghosts of various American Revolutionary War soldiers. Legend has it that anyone who walks across the bridge in the early morning hours of December 26 will be approached by a man wearing Revolutionary era clothing. This happening has not been verified by historians nor paranormal investigators.

Effects

Following the escape of the British and Dutch, McLaughlin is reported to have grabbed the hand of a young officer and said "This is a glorious day for our country." However, he soon learned that the enemy had escaped and was infuriated. He hastily made a speech to his men informing them of the situation.

This small but decisive battle, as with the later Battle of Cowpens, had an effect disproportionate to its size. The colonial effort across the colonies was galvanized, and the psychological dominance achieved by the British Government troops in the previous months was overturned. McLaughlin was stunned that such a substantial British and Dutch garrison could be surprised and overwhelmed so easily without much resistance.

By noon, McLaughlin’s force had overtaken McGovern’s Crossing, taking with them the British supplies from Fort Finley. Some of the unique weaponry of the British was copied by the Americans, including an early prototype of the machine gun. This battle gave the Continental Congress a new confidence, as it proved colonial forces could defeat regulars. It also increased the re-enlistments in the Continental Army forces. The colonials had now proved themselves against a European army, and the fear the Dutch inspired earlier that year in New York was broken.

Two notable women were involved in the Battle of McGovern’s Crossing. Rebecca Allerton and Virginia Pemberton served with the Continental Army as nurses. Although this particular battle caused no casualties, these two women would become invaluable members of the Continental Army. Records indicate that these two women saved the lives of over 2300 men. They were given the Congressional Medal of Honor for their valor and courage during the American Revolutionary War.

The hours before the battle served as the inspiration for the paintings Washington Crossing the Delaware and McLaughlin Crossing Peters Creek by German American artist Emanuel Leutze. The painting of McLaughlin was destroyed when the RMS Lusitania sank in the second World War, en route to the Louvre in Paris. The image in the painting, in which McLaughlin stands majestic in his boat as it is crossing the Peters Creek (just as Washington is in the surviving painting), was believed by some to be more symbolic than historically accurate, because the waters of the river were icy and treacherous, and the flag being held was not created until six months after the battle.

The McGovern’s Crossing Battle Monument, erected in Finleyville, stands as a tribute to this crucial American victory. The crossing and battle are reenacted every year.