W23:D2 - The American Revolution - The Philadelphia Campaign and Common Sense - The Adventure Box Podcast

Historical Conquest’s Adventure Box Podcast

September 11, 1777: Battle of Brandywine (Philadelphia Campaign)

The Philadelphia Campaign of 1777 was a critical phase of the American Revolutionary War, as the British sought to capture Philadelphia, the seat of the Continental Congress and symbolic heart of the rebellion. The campaign culminated in several key battles, including the Battle of Brandywine and the eventual British occupation of Philadelphia. To fully understand what led to this campaign, it is important to explore the movements of both the British and American forces after the New York and New Jersey Campaign and the strategic decisions that shaped the course of events.

The End of the New York and New Jersey Campaign

The New York and New Jersey Campaign of 1776-1777 saw the British forces under General William Howe gain control of New York City but suffer setbacks in New Jersey, where George Washington's Continental Army won crucial victories at Trenton and Princeton. Despite these wins, Washington's army was still outnumbered and undersupplied, while the British maintained a strong hold on New York, their base of operations for further campaigns. However, the British had failed to crush the rebellion entirely, and Washington's resilience in keeping his army intact was a key factor in keeping the American cause alive.

By the spring of 1777, General Howe was faced with a strategic choice. He could move his forces northward to assist General John Burgoyne in his campaign to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies by advancing along the Hudson River, or he could focus on capturing Philadelphia. Howe opted for the latter, believing that the capture of the American capital would demoralize the colonies and cripple the Continental Congress.

British Plans for the Philadelphia Campaign

General Howe’s decision to target Philadelphia was driven by its political significance. As the capital of the American colonies and the meeting place of the Continental Congress, Philadelphia represented a prime target for the British. Howe reasoned that capturing the city could weaken the American cause and force the Continental Army into a decisive battle, which he believed he could win.

In July 1777, Howe embarked on a complex strategy. Rather than marching his troops directly overland through New Jersey to Philadelphia, which would have meant confronting Washington's army head-on, Howe chose a more circuitous route. He sailed with approximately 18,000 troops from New York City, traveling south along the Atlantic coast, then up the Chesapeake Bay. The goal was to disembark in Maryland and march north toward Philadelphia from an unexpected direction.

This decision meant that Howe would avoid a direct confrontation with Washington's forces, who were positioned to defend Philadelphia from a more traditional approach. It also allowed him to use the element of surprise, approaching from a less defended area.

The Colonial Response

Meanwhile, George Washington and the Continental Army were tasked with defending Philadelphia, but they were unsure of Howe’s exact intentions during the early stages of the campaign. In the months following the New York and New Jersey Campaign, Washington’s forces remained in New Jersey, where they monitored British movements and prepared for future engagements. Washington was aware of Burgoyne's movements in the north and initially believed Howe might march to assist in that campaign.

By the summer of 1777, it became clear that Howe’s primary target was Philadelphia. Washington then began repositioning his forces to defend the capital. His troops came from various regions, including the northern and mid-Atlantic colonies, but were largely drawn from the Continental Army that had survived the winter in Morristown, New Jersey, and had been reinforced by militia from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

The troops that defended Philadelphia were a mix of seasoned soldiers who had fought in the earlier campaigns and newer recruits who had joined the fight as militia. Washington’s army was smaller than Howe’s, but he aimed to leverage his knowledge of the terrain and defensive positions along the Brandywine River, just west of Philadelphia.

The March to Philadelphia

In August 1777, Howe's fleet arrived at the head of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, where the British troops disembarked and began their march northward. This maneuver surprised Washington, as it bypassed the defensive positions the Continental Army had established along the more direct routes from New York or New Jersey.

As Howe’s forces moved toward Philadelphia, Washington attempted to position his army to intercept the British advance. He chose the Brandywine River as the site to defend, hoping to use its natural barriers to block the British from reaching Philadelphia. This decision led to the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, where Howe’s tactical flanking maneuvers outwitted Washington, resulting in a British victory and forcing the Continental Army to retreat.

The British and American Forces in the Campaign

The British forces in the Philadelphia Campaign came primarily from the British Isles, as well as German auxiliary troops (Hessians) who were hired to supplement British forces. General Howe’s army had been stationed in New York after the New York and New Jersey Campaign, and these troops made up the bulk of the British force that sailed to Maryland and marched on Philadelphia.

On the American side, the troops defending Philadelphia were drawn from several sources. The core of Washington’s army was made up of veterans from earlier campaigns, including soldiers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New England. These were reinforced by local militia from Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, who provided critical support despite being less well-trained than the regulars. Washington also benefited from a growing alliance with France, which was providing financial and material support to the American cause, though French troops had not yet joined the fight.

The Philadelphia Campaign was a key moment in the American Revolutionary War, as both the British and Americans sought to gain control over the vital city of Philadelphia. The months between the New York and New Jersey Campaign and the Philadelphia Campaign were filled with strategic maneuvering, as General Howe sought to capture the American capital without engaging Washington directly. Meanwhile, Washington’s Continental Army, though outmatched in numbers and experience, was able to delay the British advance and protect the larger Revolutionary cause.

The campaign showcased the evolving tactical sophistication of both the British and American forces and set the stage for the larger conflicts of the war. While Philadelphia’s capture was a significant win for the British, it did not end the war, as the Continental Army continued to fight, and the American colonies remained defiant.