Philadelphia campaign
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Statue of Anthony Wayne at Valley Forge
Date: 1777–1778 Location: Pennsylvania and New Jersey Result: British occupation, then abandonment, of Philadelphia
Combatants
United States	Great Britain
Commanders
George Washington	William Howe Henry Clinton

The Philadelphia campaign (1777–1778) was a British initiative in the American Revolutionary War. The campaign was controversial because, although British General William Howe successfully captured the revolutionary capital of Philadelphia, he proceeded slowly and did not aid the concurrent Saratoga campaign further north, which ended in disaster for the British. General Howe resigned during the occupation of Philadelphia and was replaced by his second-in-command, General Sir Henry Clinton, who evacuated Philadelphia in order to reinforce New York City. Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Netherlands, Spain, Native Americans Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, Native Americans Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene William Howe, Henry Clinton, Charles Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence,[1] was a conflict that... Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 4365 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Anthony Wayne (January 1, 1745 - December 15, 1796), was a United States Army general and statesman. ... Recreation of a cabin in which soldiers would have lived at Valley Forge. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... Philadelphia is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was the Commander in Chief of American forces in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and, later, the first President of the United States, an office he held from 1789 to 1797. ... Sir William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe PC (August 10, 1729 – July 12, 1814) was an English General who was Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American Revolutionary War, one of the three Howe brothers. ... General Sir Henry Clinton K.B. Commander-in-Chief of British troops in America. ... Combatants United States Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Strength 11,000 17,000 Casualties 250 killed, 750 wounded, 400 captured 89 killed, 487 wounded The Battle of Brandywine was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on September 11, 1777 near Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania|Chadds Ford]] on... The Paoli Massacre is the name given to an incident during the American Revolutionary War. ... Combatants Continental Army Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Strength ? 9,000 Casualties 152 killed, 521 wounded, & 400 captured 71 killed, 450 wounded, & 14 missing The Battle of Germantown was in the American Revolutionary War. ... Combatants Patriot militia Britain Hessian Army Commanders John Lacey William Howe Strength ? ? Casualties None None The Battle of Crooked Billet was a battle of the American Revolutionary War and was fought on May 1, 1778. ... The Battle of Monmouth was an inconclusive battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on June 28, 1778. ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Netherlands, Spain, Native Americans Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, Native Americans Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene William Howe, Henry Clinton, Charles Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence,[1] was a conflict that... Sir William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe PC (August 10, 1729 – July 12, 1814) was an English General who was Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American Revolutionary War, one of the three Howe brothers. ... Philadelphia is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ... The Saratoga campaign was a major British initiative in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War. ... General Sir Henry Clinton K.B. Commander-in-Chief of British troops in America. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Big Apple Location Location in the state of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,214. ...

Capture of Philadelphia

Having secured New York City in his 1776 campaign, in 1777 General Howe concentrated on capturing Philadelphia, the seat of the Revolutionary government. He moved slowly, landing 15,000 troops in late August at the northern end of Chesapeake Bay, about 55 miles (90 km) southwest of Philadelphia. Washington positioned his 11,000 men between Howe and Philadelphia, but was outflanked and driven back at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. The Continental Congress once again abandoned the city. British and Revolutionary forces maneuvered around each other for the next several days, clashing in minor encounters such as the so-called "Paoli Massacre." On September 26, Howe finally outmaneuvered Washington and marched into Philadelphia unopposed. Combatants United States Kingdom of Great Britain Commanders George Washington Sir William Howe Lord Cornwallis The New York and New Jersey campaigns were important early events in the American Revolutionary War. ... Chesapeake Bay - Landsat photo Chesapeake Bay where the Susquehanna River empties into it. ... Combatants United States Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Strength 11,000 17,000 Casualties 250 killed, 750 wounded, 400 captured 89 killed, 487 wounded The Battle of Brandywine was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on September 11, 1777 near Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania|Chadds Ford]] on... September 11 is the 254th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (255th in leap years). ... 1777 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Paoli Massacre is the name given to an incident during the American Revolutionary War. ...

After taking the city, the British garrisoned about 9,000 troops in Germantown, five miles (8 km) above Philadelphia. Washington unsuccessfully attacked Germantown in early October, and then retreated to watch and wait. Meanwhile, the British secured the Delaware River by taking (with difficulty) forts Mifflin and Mercer in November. Garrison House, built 1675, Dover, NH, USA In the military, garrison is the collective term for the body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base. ... Germantown was originally the Borough of Germantown, a town in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania and is today primarily a neighborhood in Philadelphia, about six miles northwest from the center of the city. ... Combatants Continental Army Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Strength ? 9,000 Casualties 152 killed, 521 wounded, & 400 captured 71 killed, 450 wounded, & 14 missing The Battle of Germantown was in the American Revolutionary War. ... Fort Mifflin is located in the southern portion of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, near the Philadelphia Airport. ...

General Washington's problems at this time were not just with the British. In the so-called Conway Cabal, some politicians and officers unhappy with Washington's recent performance as commander-in-chief secretively discussed his removal. Washington, offended by the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, laid the whole matter openly before Congress. His supporters rallied behind him, and the episode abated. The Conway Cabal refers to a conspiracy in late 1777 and 1778 designed to remove George Washington as commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. ...

Valley Forge and Monmouth

Washington and his army encamped at Valley Forge in December 1777, about 20 miles (32 km) from Philadelphia, where they would stay for the next six months. Over the winter, 2,500 men (out of 10,000) died from disease and exposure. However, the army eventually emerged from Valley Forge in good order, thanks in part to a training program supervised by Baron von Steuben. Recreation of a cabin in which soldiers would have lived at Valley Forge. ... Baron von Steuben Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus Steuben, Baron von Steuben (November 15, 1730-November 28, 1794) was a German army officer who served with George Washington in the American Revolutionary War and is credited with teaching American troops the essentials of military drill and discipline. ...

Meanwhile, there was a shakeup in the British command, with General Clinton replacing Howe as commander-in-chief. French entry into the war had changed British war strategy, and Clinton was ordered by the government to abandon Philadelphia and defend New York City, now vulnerable to French naval power. Washington's army shadowed Clinton on his withdrawal, and forced a battle at Monmouth on June 28, 1778, the last major battle in the North. Washington's second-in-command, General Charles Lee, ordered a controversial retreat during the battle, allowing Clinton's army to escape. By July, Clinton was in New York City, and Washington was again at White Plains. Both armies were back where they had been two years earlier. With the exception of scattered minor actions in the North, like the Battle of Stony Point, the focus of the war now shifted elsewhere. The Battle of Monmouth was an inconclusive battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on June 28, 1778. ... June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Charles Lee Charles Lee (1732–1782) was a British soldier turned Virginia planter who was a Major General of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. ... Combatants United States British Commanders Anthony Wayne Henry Johnson Strength 1,350 700 Casualties 95 killed, wounded and missing 63 killed 70 wounded 543 prisoners The Battle of Stony Point was a battle of the American Revolutionary War. ...

Further reading

• Anderson, Troyer Steele. The Command of the Howe Brothers During the American Revolution. New York and London, 1936.
• Buchanan, John. The Road to Valley Forge: How Washington Built the Army That Won the Revolution. Wiley, 2004. ISBN 0471441562.