Lafayette, showing extraordinary skill in spite of his inexperience (he was 21 years old at the time), extricated his force from a trap formed by three British divisions.  The British outnumbered Lafayette by more than 5 to 1.  The story shows that Washington was right in trusting the young Frenchman; moreover, it is a story that holds particular attraction for us, who every day pass the places where these events took place over 200 years ago.

      To understand what happened at Barren Hill, it is helpful to realize the predicament of the British army.  The British were wintering in Philadelphia, but their position was endangered by the fact that France had just entered the war as an ally of the Colonials.  Washington correctly guessed that the British would leave the city in the spring and sent Lafayette to gather intelligence about their plans.

      Washington warned the young Frenchman to be extremely careful.  Not only would the British have loved to ridicule the French entry into the war by capturing him; but also, the Continental army had experienced a severe winter at Valley Forge and could not afford to lose any more men.

      Lafayette, with 2200 men and perhaps eight field pieces, probably came to Barren Hill by way of Swede’s Ford, where Norristown is now.  He decided to make camp near St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.  The position was ideal:  it offered a good view to the south and access to the two principle fords across the river, Levering’s downstream and Swede’s up.

      Lafayette had to depend on 600 Pennsylvania Militiamen to guard his left flank.  They were stationed near Flourtown, but were not under his command, a fact that nearly proved disasterous later.  Captain Allen McLane’s  squadron of cavalry and 50 to 70 Oneida Indians were stationed about two miles down from St. Peter’s on Ridge Pike to guard the right flank.

      As Lafayette was taking up his position, the British General William Howe was being honored by his peers.  General Henry Clinton had  arrived to replace Howe, and an elaborate festival was going on.  In the midst of  the revels, word of Lafayette’s position arrived.  Howe and Clinton saw a handsome opportunity.  They would  capture the impudent young Frenchman and make his disgrace the highlight of the party.

      In a festive sprit, they laid plans.  Howe and Clinton would head up Ridge Pike blocking off Levering’s Ford.  Another division under General Charles Grey was to keep Lafayette from fleeing to the east by blocking off Germantown Pike.  During the night of the 19th, General Charles Grant would march up what is now Route 73 with a third division and prevent Lafayette’s escape to the north.

      Grant should have been detected by the Pennsylvania Militia; but as it happened, the Militia withdrew without notifying Lafayette!  Grant was able to pass up Skippack Pike unopposed.

      Fortunately, two events occurred that helped Lafayette escape.  As Grant’s division passed Farmar’s (or Mather’s) Mill, which still stands just north of the intersection of Bethlehem and Skippack Pikes, it awoke a Captain Stoy, who lived at the mill.  Stoy set out to warn Lafayette immediately.  Meanwhile, Captain McLane apprehended two British grenadiers and learned of the plot.

      As dawn approached, Lafayette had most of the pieces of the puzzle before him.  To check the situation for himself, he rode to Marble Hall (just east of the present village of Lafayette Hill).  There could be no doubt.  From the elevation at Marble Hall, he could see Grant’s columns coming over Cold Point Hill (where Militia Hill Road joins Butler Pike).  The route to Swede’s Ford would be cut off in a matter of minutes.  He was surrounded on three sides, and the river blocked his escape on the fourth.

      The only remaining possibility for getting across the Schuylkill River was Matson’s Ford, just north of the present-day bridge in Conshohocken.  It was a difficult crossing, deeper than the others; and, in any event, Grant was closer to it than Lafayette was.

      As Grant moved into position, Lafayette developed a brilliant strategy.  He would move his men down what is now Barren Hill Road, along the river (through Conshohocken) to Matson’s Ford.  In order to gain time and to force Grant to pull in his flanks so that they could not interfere with the retreating Colonials, Lafayette began arrangements for a pretended attack.

       He reversed his front and prepared some troops to march toward the British.  They were to look as much as possible like the heads of columns.  While this movement was taking place, the main body, with Brigadier General Enoch Poor leading the advance guard, would be on its way to the ford.

      The maneuver worked as planned.  As soon as the main body neared the ford, the columns disappeared into the woods to join them.  When Grant learned what had happened, he dispatched his cavalry; but because it took Spring Mill Road rather than going directly to the ford, the Colonials gained some extra time.  When the cavalry did reach the ford, the Colonials were already on the west side.

      To make things worse for the British, the Oneida Indians, who had not yet crossed, hid behind trees and threw the British horses into panic with their war whoops.

      Lafayette believed that the retreat had been accomplished without the loss of a single man, but others say that eight to ten Colonials were killed.  For their part, the British were crestfallen.  Their festivities ended in humiliation, and the officers’ ladies were deprived of the anticipated opportunity to meet the charming Lafayette.