Birmingham Township near West Chester in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Osborne's Hill

Photographed By Keith S Smith, December 15, 2011

1. Osborne's Hill Marker

Inscription. From this ridge General Howe directed the movements of the British Army during the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777.

Erected 1915 by The Pennsylvania Historical Commission and the Chester and Delaware County Historical Societies.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Notable Places • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1966.

Location. 39° 55.361′ N, 75° 36.532′ W. Marker is near West Chester, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It is in Birmingham Township. Marker is at the intersection of Birmingham Road and Country Club Drive, on the left when traveling south on Birmingham Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 901 Birmingham Rd, West Chester PA 19382, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Osborne Hill (a few steps from this marker); Birthplace of Isaac Sharpless (approx. 0.3 miles away); Battle of Brandywine (approx. one mile away); Jean Kane Foulke (approx. 1.1 miles away); Sconnelltown. (approx. 1.2 miles away); Gen's Lafayette and Pulaski

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(approx. 1.4 miles away); The Peace Garden at Birmingham (approx. 1.4 miles away); Birmingham Friends Meeting House (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Chester.

More about this marker. There are stone steps up to this marker. The owner of the property also has a flag next to this marker, and takes great care in maintaining the marker.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. .

Also see . . . Osborne’s Hill – Explore PA History. (Submitted on December 16, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.)

Additional commentary.
1. As seen by Joseph Townsend
A young Chester County resident named Joseph Townsend observed General William Howe's activities on Osborne's Hill on the day of the Battle of Brandywine and recalled his observations in an account published years afterward.

He noted that he saw the chief British commander "mounted on a large English horse," which he remembered as being "much reduced in flesh," after its long voyage from New York and march from the Chesapeake.

Osborne's Hill at top of the stone steps image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, December 15, 2011

2. Osborne's Hill at top of the stone steps

In fact, many of the British Army's horses had died at sea from disease during the extended six-week swing along the Atlantic coast. The young Quaker watched the commander "in consultation" with his principal aides until a "tremendous roaring of cannon" and a "volume of smoke" in the vicinity of Chad's Ford distracted him.

— Submitted December 16, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Additional keywords. Brandywine, Revolutionary, Colonial, Howe

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 948 times since then and 52 times this year. Last updated on January 9, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 16, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.