Yellow Springs and the Battle of the Clouds
Researched and Written by Mark Ashton
Head Quarters, at Yellow spring [Pa.] Septr 17th 1777.
Parole: Connecticut. Countersigns: Fairfield. Fairfax.
The commanding officers of brigades are immediately to dispatch two or three careful officers who are best mounted, into the rear of the line of march yesterday, as far back as General Maxwell’s quarters, where the army last drew up, to examine all houses, barns and huts on the way, and collect and bring on all stragglers from the army.
The Brigadiers and other officers are immediately to examine the arms and ammunition of their men; and spare no pains to preserve such ammunition as is not already damaged, and to put the arms in the best order possible—such as are loaded to be drawn, if practicable; if they cannot be drawn they are to remain loaded— for not one gun is to be fired in order to clean it—The General desires the officers to pay the most particular attention to these orders, as not only their own safety, but the salvation of their country may depend thereon—such ammunition as is damaged is likewise to be carefully saved, to be returned to the park of artillery, the first convenient time.
To this point also the officers will now, and at all times pay attention as the lead is of vast importance to us.
— General Orders: Library of Congress
The Battle of the Clouds
On the afternoon of September 16, a battle equal in size to that of Brandywine was forming on the floor of the Great Valley between the Three Tun Tavern west of Malvern and the Boot Tavern on the Phoenixville Pike. American forces were centered at the White Horse Tavern (606 Swedesford Rd.)
The British were organizing in the area north of the Goshen Meeting where Immaculata is today. The weather grows blustery with light rain.
As the armies begin to engage at 3pm, the rain and wind grow violent to a point where ammunition is useless. Washington orders a six mile retreat up the north valley wall (Yellow Springs Road) to Yellow Springs.
The now driving rain continues all afternoon and all night.
The Americans march nearly 12 hours to travel the six miles and sleep throughout today’s West Pikeland in open fields, without tents.
“Article clipped from The Public Register, or, Freeman’s Journal,” The Public Register, or Freeman’s Journal (Dublin, Ireland), December 9, 1777, clipping (image), Newspapers.com, accessed August 1, 2025.
Staying at the Tavern
Washington, Hamilton, Wayne probably stayed at the log Yellow Springs Tavern.
While there Washington decides he needs to secure dry ammunition and supplies from the Redding and Warwick Furnaces before he can act.
He dispatches Hamilton and Light Horse Harry Lee to remove the supplies stored at the Valley Forge and sends Wayne with 2,500 troops into the hills just south of Malvern to observe and harass and British attempt to move on Philadelphia.
The British have moved toward the city and camped at Howelville, near Chesterbrook.
Preceding the Paoli Massacre
On the night of September 20, the British will launch a night attack on Wayne.
Today, we call this attack the Paoli Massacre.
Image credit: Xavier della Gatta (Public domain image, via Wikimedia Commons)