From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Battle of Matson's Ford was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought December 11, 1777, in the area surrounding Matson's Ford (present-day Conshohocken and West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania).
Enroute from White Marsh to Valley Forge via Butler Pike, George Washington's forces planned to cross the Schuylkill River at Matson's Ford. Advance patrols of the Pennsylvania Militia, under the command of Colonel John Lacey, encountered a British foraging expedition under the command of Lord Cornwallis. Skirmishes ensued, and the Pennsylvania Militia were overrun. The British pushed ahead and engaged units of the Continental Army making their way across the river. The Americans retreated, destroyed their temporary bridge across the Schuylkill behind them, and marched north to Swede's Ford (present-day Norristown).
The Continental Army spent December 11-12 in the hills above Swede's Ford. On the evening of December 12, the army crossed the Schuylkill River using makeshift wagon bridges and proceeded down Swedeland Road to Gulph Mills where they remained from December 13 till December 19. In recognition of the American victory at Saratoga, December 18 was celebrated as day of "Thanksgiving and Praise" (and was, in fact, the first national holiday for the thirteen colonies). [1] On December 19, the army marched seven miles west on Gulph Road to their winter quarters at Valley Forge.
