The British Capture Philadelphia

American Revolution
Written By Tom Hand

In the spring of 1777, most of the British army was stationed in New York. For his next move, General William Howe decided to attack Philadelphia, the largest city in the colonies and home of the Continental Congress. Rather than march over land through New Jersey, Howe sailed his regiments up the Chesapeake Bay and landed sixty miles south of the city. Washington quickly moved to get between Howe’s army and the capital but failed to guard a ford to his north. When the British attacked on September 11, 1777, they outflanked the Americans and Washington was forced to retreat.

Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, discusses how the Redcoats were able to capture our young nation’s capital, and why it still matters today.

Images courtesy of National Army Museum, Brown University Library, The New York Public Library, Mount Vernon, Philadelphia Encyclopedia, Wikipedia. 

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Tom Hand
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A Desperate Winter at Valley Forge
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Continental Army Victorious at Princeton