Philadelphia Campaign (1777–1778)
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The Philadelphia campaign (1777–1778) was a British military campaign during the American Revolutionary War designed to gain control of Philadelphia, the Revolutionary-era capital where the Second Continental Congress convened, formed the Continental Army, and appointed George Washington as its commander in 1775, and later authored and unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence the following year, on July 4, 1776, which formalized and escalated the war. In 1776, British General William Howe captured the city of New York, and in the following year set his sights on the American capital of Philadelphia. Rather than march overland to assault the city, Howe decided to sail his army down, around Maryland, and up the Chesapeake Bay. He landed his army in Maryland and began to march from the south towards Philadelphia. After receiving permission for his campaign against Philadelphia, in August 1777 Howe sailed up the Chesapeake Bay with a force of 13,000 troops, disembarking at the Head of Elk, Maryland. As Howe began his march to Philadelphia, Washington scrambled to respond. On September 11, 1777, British forces engaged with the Americans at the Brandywine River, an engagement that saw strategic reconnaissance errors by the Americans. Washington, alarmed at Howe’s pace, sent the division of Brigadier General “Mad” Anthony Wayne (1745-96) to harass the British as they continued toward Philadelphia.
Wayne set up camp in Paoli close to the British, who learned of Wayne’s presence and attacked on the night of September 20, 1777. Wayne’s men, caught completely by surprise, saw the loss of 53 men and 71 prisoners taken. Washington prepared defenses against Howe's movements at Brandywine Creek, but was flanked and beaten back at Brandywine. After further skirmishes and maneuvers, Howe was able to enter and occupy Philadelphia. Washington then unsuccessfully attacked one of Howe's garrisons at the Germantown before retreating to Valley Forge for the winter. Howe's campaign was controversial because, although he successfully captured the American capital of Philadelphia, he proceeded slowly and did not aid the concurrent Saratoga campaign of Lieutenant General John Burgoyne further north, which ended in disaster with the Battles of Saratoga (First and Second) for the British, and brought France into the war. Howe landed 15,000 troops in late August at the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, about 55 miles southwest of Philadelphia. Washington positioned 11,000 men between Howe and Philadelphia but was outflanked and driven back at the Battle of Brandywine. The Continental Congress once again abandoned the city, relocating first to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and later York, Pennsylvania. British and Patriot forces maneuvered around each other west of Philadelphia for the next several days, clashing in minor encounters such as the abortive Battle of the Clouds and the Paoli Massacre. On September 26, Howe finally outmaneuvered Washington and marched into Philadelphia unopposed.
Howe’s decision to not assist Burgoyne may have been rooted in Howe’s perception that Burgoyne would receive credit for a successful campaign, even if it required Howe’s help; this would not help Howe’s reputation, as the Philadelphia expedition would if it succeeded. After capturing Philadelphia, the British garrisoned about 9,000 troops in Germantown, five miles north of Philadelphia. On October 2, the British captured Fort Billingsport, on the Delaware River in New Jersey, to clear a line of chevaux de frise obstacles in the river. The idea of placing those obstacles is attributed to Benjamin Franklin, and they were designed by Robert Smith. An undefended line had already been taken at Marcus Hook, and a third line was nearer Philadelphia, guarded by Fort Mifflin and Fort Mercer. Washington unsuccessfully attacked Germantown on October 4, and then retreated to watch and wait for the British to counterattack. For nearly a year, the British occupied the American capital. Loyalist civilians welcomed the British, while Patriot civilians endured the occupation. Despite the loss of their capital city, George Washington and the Continental Army continued to put up resistance while the Continental Congress fled to York, Pennsylvania. On October 4, 1777, Washington led an assault on the British just outside of Philadelphia at Germantown. The battle appeared to go in the Americans' favor, but soon the tide shifted, and Washington was driven back.
Wayne set up camp in Paoli close to the British, who learned of Wayne’s presence and attacked on the night of September 20, 1777. Wayne’s men, caught completely by surprise, saw the loss of 53 men and 71 prisoners taken. Washington prepared defenses against Howe's movements at Brandywine Creek, but was flanked and beaten back at Brandywine. After further skirmishes and maneuvers, Howe was able to enter and occupy Philadelphia. Washington then unsuccessfully attacked one of Howe's garrisons at the Germantown before retreating to Valley Forge for the winter. Howe's campaign was controversial because, although he successfully captured the American capital of Philadelphia, he proceeded slowly and did not aid the concurrent Saratoga campaign of Lieutenant General John Burgoyne further north, which ended in disaster with the Battles of Saratoga (First and Second) for the British, and brought France into the war. Howe landed 15,000 troops in late August at the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, about 55 miles southwest of Philadelphia. Washington positioned 11,000 men between Howe and Philadelphia but was outflanked and driven back at the Battle of Brandywine. The Continental Congress once again abandoned the city, relocating first to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and later York, Pennsylvania. British and Patriot forces maneuvered around each other west of Philadelphia for the next several days, clashing in minor encounters such as the abortive Battle of the Clouds and the Paoli Massacre. On September 26, Howe finally outmaneuvered Washington and marched into Philadelphia unopposed.
Howe’s decision to not assist Burgoyne may have been rooted in Howe’s perception that Burgoyne would receive credit for a successful campaign, even if it required Howe’s help; this would not help Howe’s reputation, as the Philadelphia expedition would if it succeeded. After capturing Philadelphia, the British garrisoned about 9,000 troops in Germantown, five miles north of Philadelphia. On October 2, the British captured Fort Billingsport, on the Delaware River in New Jersey, to clear a line of chevaux de frise obstacles in the river. The idea of placing those obstacles is attributed to Benjamin Franklin, and they were designed by Robert Smith. An undefended line had already been taken at Marcus Hook, and a third line was nearer Philadelphia, guarded by Fort Mifflin and Fort Mercer. Washington unsuccessfully attacked Germantown on October 4, and then retreated to watch and wait for the British to counterattack. For nearly a year, the British occupied the American capital. Loyalist civilians welcomed the British, while Patriot civilians endured the occupation. Despite the loss of their capital city, George Washington and the Continental Army continued to put up resistance while the Continental Congress fled to York, Pennsylvania. On October 4, 1777, Washington led an assault on the British just outside of Philadelphia at Germantown. The battle appeared to go in the Americans' favor, but soon the tide shifted, and Washington was driven back.
