Jim Christ
The Battle of Paoli
Jim Christ, President of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund, discusses the Battle of Paoli, sometimes called “The Paoli Massacre,” which unfolded at midnight on September 20–21, 1777 and was the 9th deadliest battle of the American Revolutionary War. He will also discuss what happened after the battle was over, and why War of 1812 veterans built the 2nd oldest Revolutionary War monument in the United States.
“Remember Paoli”, it is the nation’s first battle cry and was born of the battle that was fought in Malvern, PA on night of September 20th, 1777. Learn about how British General Charles “No Flint” Grey lead around 2,000 men at night into the Great Valley to surprise over 2000 of General Anthony Wayne’s men and 2100 Maryland Militia under General William Smallwood. The ninth bloodiest battle of the Revolutionary War left Philadelphia open to British occupation, and also left a lasting impact in the local community. In 1817 the second oldest War Memorial was dedicated and is still remembered today with the Malvern Memorial Parade.
[Recorded August 20, 2020.]
Jim Christ (jimchrist@paolibattlefield.net) is President of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund (RememberPaoli.org | Facebook | Twitter), and has been on the board for the past eight years. Jim is an avid history buff and is also Vice President of the American Revolution Round Table of Philadelphia, the Vice President of the Brandywine Valley Civil War Round Table, Board Member of the Christian Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford, and is Treasurer of Historical Military Impressions, Inc, a non-profit military reenactment group that preforms in several states. Jim works as Director of Client Services for Integrated Software Solutions Inc., in Frazer Pa., and has an Associate’s degree in Business Administration. Jim is married and lives on what was The Battle of The Clouds Battlefield, a Revolutionary War Battlefield in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, PA.
