Harris, Michael C. The Brandywine Campaign, 1777

A volume from the Casemate Illustrated series. Today, Brandywine Creek meanders peacefully through the Pennsylvania countryside, but on 11 September 1777, it served as the picturesque backdrop for the largest battle of the American Revolution, involving more troops than any other battle fought on American soil until the Civil War. Long overshadowed by the impressive American victory at Saratoga, the complex British campaign that defeated George Washington's colonial army and led to the capture of the capital, Philadelphia, was one of the most important military events of the war. General Sir William Howe launched his campaign in late July 1777 when he loaded his army of 16,500 British and Hessian soldiers onto a fleet of 265 ships in New York and set sail. After six difficult weeks, Howe's expedition landed near Elkton, Maryland, and moved north towards Pennsylvania. Washington's rebel army harassed Howe's men in several places, including a small but fierce skirmish at Cooch's Bridge in Delaware on 3 September. Another week of hit-and-run tactics followed until Howe found himself three miles from Chad's Ford on Brandywine Creek, behind which Washington had positioned his army in strategic blockade positions along a six-mile front. The young colonial capital of Philadelphia lay only 25 miles to the east. Under cover of darkness and a thick morning fog, General Howe launched his attack at 5:00 a.m. on 11 September, pushing part of his army against the American centre at Chad's Ford, while the bulk of his troops bypassed Washington's unprotected right flank to execute his coup de main, destroy the colonists, and march on Philadelphia. Warned just in time of Howe's flank attack, the American generals turned their divisions toward the threat. The fierce fighting on Birmingham Hill drove the Americans from the battlefield, but their heroic defence saved Washington's army from annihilation and proved that the fledgling Continental foot soldiers were a match for their enemy. Although further fighting ensued, Philadelphia fell to Howe's legions on 26 September.