Brandywine Battlefield National Historic Landmark

By Kathleen C. Wandersee

The Battle of Brandywine was the largest and one of the bloodiest battles fought in the Revolutionary War. Lasting only one day, September 11, 1777, it was to affect the course of the War and the lives of the inhabitants of the Brandywine Valley for years afterward. About 26,000 soldiers actively fought on that hot day, with total losses estimated at 2,000 for the British and 1,200 for the Continentals. Although technically a loss for the Americans, the determination and ferocity shown by the Continental troops demonstrated that this War could be waged and won by the rebellious colonists. Today, much of the bloodied land is covered by housing developments, yet luckily some of the most critical parcels still remain open, conveying the story of the Battle. Beneath these lands lie the bodies of the fallen from both sides.

This Battle was so significant to the history of the United States that in 1961 the Department of Interior had the 10 square mile area where the Battle was fought declared a National Historic Landmark. The designation of National Historic Landmark means that it is among the crème de la crème of historic sites, a level of significance higher than that of the National Register of Historic Places. However, the value of this designation, and if fact the designation itself, was not known to the local residents until the1980s. It wasn’t until the publication of The Cultural Resources Management Study of the Brandywine Battlefield National Historic Landmark in 1989 that attention began to be focused on this valuable historic resource in our own backyards. The Study consists of a review of the troop movements and the terrain, the architecture of the area, and the potential archaeology. An edited version of the Study was produced in 1992 that advised formation of a group to develop an action plan to try and save the Battlefield Landmark.

This led to the formation of the Brandywine Battlefield National Historic Landmark (BBNHL) Task Force in 1993. Chaired by the head of the State Bureau for Historic Preservation, members include representatives from the National Park Service, PennDOT, Chester County Planning Commission and Department of Parks and Recreation, Delaware County Planning Department, Brandywine Conservancy, Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates, and the Chadds Ford Historical Society.

To date, the Task Force has sponsored many tours of the Battlefield Landmark for local, county, state, and federal officials. Other Task Force efforts include a brochure distributed to residents to let them know the significance of the land on which they live and a booklet of land use strategies options. The latter was presented to municipal officials in each of the six townships to encourage local preservation of the Landmark.

The Landmark encompasses parts of six townships in two counties. The parcels within the Landmark are primarily under private ownership. The 50-acre Brandywine Battlefield Park on Route 1 is located within the Landmark as are both the Barns-Brinton House and the John Chads House. The scene of the Battlefield today is much different from that in 1777. Developments have sprung up over portions of the Battlefield, yet there are still large parcels retaining the historic terrain so significant to interpreting the actions and movements of both armies. Efforts to save these parcels have focused on purchase of easements on these parcels with limited development options.

To date, portions that have been saved include Sandy Hollow (owned by Birmingham Township) and the Brigham’s property on Meetinghouse Road. Other large parcel easements are under discussion with the property owners. Funding for the easement purchases has varied sources: the Patriot’s Act of 1999, state funding through the Historical Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Chester County’s Preservation Partnership Program. Municipalities have contributed as well as foundations.

Preserving lands within the Battlefield Landmark is critical now. The U.S. Congress has declared the Brandywine Battlefield Landmark a Priority One Endangered Landmark. We have all seen how the open space has disappeared within the last few decades. Soon there will be none of our rolling hills left of this Landmark to preserve if actions are not taken immediately.