Battle of Brandywine

11 September 1777

British victory

The Battle of Brandywine took place at and around Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, as British Lt. Gen. Sir William Howe attacked General George Washington’s Army that blocked Howe’s advance on Philadelphia. Howe ordered a large force to distract the Americans with a demonstration at Chadds Ford. Meanwhile, the British made a 17-mile flank march around the American right. After putting up a stiff resistance, the American forces were eventually forced to retreat.

British plans in 1777 called for an attack on Philadelphia, the de facto capital of the new United States. Simultaneously, a large British army was to advance from Canada to Albany, and be met there by reinforcements from New York City, to cut off New England from the rest of the American colonies. The British commander in chief in North America, Sir William Howe, led a large force by sea to the top of the Chesapeake Bay, disembarking the 15,000 soldiers at Head of Elk (now Elkton), Maryland on 27 August. In a slow advance harassed by small American units, Howe eventually found the Continental Army of 15,000 troops under Washington defending Philadelphia in a line behind Brandywine Creek. While part of Howe’s army under General Wilhelm von Knyphausen attacked the American position at Chadds Ford, Lt. Gen. Charles, Lord Cornwallis led about 8,000 troops around Washington’s right flank by crossing Brandywine Creek at an unguarded ford. Surprised by Howe’s bold move, Washington’s troops managed to put up a strong fight but eventually had to retire from the field northeast toward Philadelphia.

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