Battle of Matson's Ford

The Battle of Matson's Ford was a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought on December 11, 1777 in the area surrounding Matson's Ford (present-day Conshohocken and West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania). In this series of minor skirmish actions, advance patrols of Pennsylvania militia crossed to the west side of the Schuylkill River, encountered a British foraging expedition, and were overrun. The British pushed ahead to Matson's Ford, where units of the Continental Army were also crossing to the west side of the river. The Americans retreated back to the east side, destroying their temporary bridge made from wagons that had been lashed together. The British remained on the west side of the Schuylkill overnight, but left the area the next day to continue foraging elsewhere. The Continentals moved northward and crossed to the west side of the river at Swede's Ford (present-day Norristown). They proceeded to Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, a few miles upriver from Matson's Ford.