Battle of Brandywine

The Battle of Brandywine was a battle in the American War of Independence fought on September 11, 1777 at Chadds Ford on Brandywine Creek, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The battle ended in a major victory for British forces, allowing them to capture Philadelphia.

After a 34-day sea transport from Sandy Hook on the New Jersey shore, 17,000 British troops under the command of General William Howe landed at the mouth of Maryland's Elk River, on the northern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Unloading the troops proved very difficult given the shallow and marshy riverbank.

General George Washington had positioned the American troops between the mouth of the Elk and Philadelphia, about 70 km away. They were able to observe the British landing from Iron Hill, about 14 km to the northwest. Washington did not have an actual camp established because of the delay in disembarking the British, but advanced quickly with his troops and refrained from making an accurate reconnaissance of enemy troop strength. He decided on the high ground at the ford near Chadds Fort as a defensive position, since from here one could safely cross the Brandywine on the road from Baltimore to Philadelphia.

On September 9, Washington posted guard units at other fords above and below Chadds Ford, as he hoped to force the battle at this point and as he considered the area safe. The British massed their forces at Kennett Square, with a portion of the force heading to Chadds Ford to meet Washington. The other troops went north to a ford that Washington had overlooked, and then marched south into the flank of the American forces.

On the morning of September 11, dense fog settled over the countryside, providing cover for the British. Washington received conflicting reports of enemy troop movements, but continued to assume that the bulk of the British were moving to attack Chadd's Ford. By the time the British appeared on the right flank of his troops, it was too late to react and he had to order a retreat to Chester.

In the days that followed, the British and American forces maneuvered and there were only minor encounters, as in the Paoli Massacre on the night of September 20-21.

The Continental Congress left Philadelphia, first for Lancaster and then for York. Military supplies were taken from Philadelphia to Reading. On September 26, 1777, the British marched unopposed into Philadelphia.