Brandywine Battlefield in Chadds Ford, PA

The Philadelphia campaign of 1777

Friends of Brandywine Battlefield
Baltimore Pike at Ring Road
PO Box 202
Chadds Ford, PA 19137
(610) 459-3342

One of the more curious – and controversial – episodes in the Revolutionary War took place in the late summer and early fall of 1777. William Howe was the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in America, and the British were occupying New York City. Howe determined to capture the Hudson River Valley, thereby severing the colonies in two. He arranged for 10,000 men to march up the Hudson River to Albany, while General John Burgoyne would bring an army of 8,000 men down from Quebec. Howe later changed his mind and concentrated on capturing Philadelphia, the seat of the Revolutionary government. Unaware of the change in plan, Burgoyne marched down from Quebec, and the bulk of the army was forced to surrender after the Battles of Saratoga in September and October. Saratoga was an enormous morale boost to the fledgling nation, and it helped to convince France to enter the conflict in support of the United States.

Meanwhile, Howe was prosecuting his attack on Philadelphia. An armada of more than 260 ships carrying some 17,000 British troops landed on the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, 40–50 miles southwest of Philadelphia. General George Washington chose the high ground near Chadds Ford to defend against the British, since Chadds Ford allowed a safe passage across the Brandywine River on the road from Baltimore to Philadelphia. Howe thought better than to mount a full scale attack against the prepared American defenses. A portion of his army advanced to meet Washington’s troops at Chadds Ford, while the majority marched several miles to the north, where they crossed the Brandywine River at a ford overlooked by Washington. Then they marched south along the Brandywine to flank the American forces at Chadds Ford.

The Battle of Brandywine was fought on September 11, 1777, and it was a decisive victory for the British. The American defeat at Brandywine left Philadelphia undefended, and the British captured the city on September 26. This began an occupation that would last until June 1778, when the British abandoned Philadelphia and returned to New York. France had entered the Revolutionary War that February, requiring the British to protect New York City from French naval power.

When I visited Brandywine Battlefield Historic Site I was told by one of the guides at the Visitor Center that starting the next day … he and the rest of the staff there would be unemployed! The problem was a lack of funds sufficient to run the site. The site is managed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and my experience with state-run facilities is that they don’t get nearly the same level of attention as those run by the National Park Service. As of this writing, the visitor center has been reopened, but tours of the historic houses have not yet resumed. Please call the phone number given above before visiting!

The house of Benjamin Ring, a Quaker farmer and miller. Washington established his headquarters here, and a council of war with his generals was held here on September 9th. Over the course of time the house fell into disrepair and was later restored.

A Quaker farmer named Gideon Gilpin was living here at the time of the battle with his family. Gilpin’s property was plundered after the battle by foraging soldiers. The claim for losses filed by Gilpin provides insight into the appearance of this prosperous farm before the battle started.

This American Sycamore – situated next to the Gilpin House – is certified to have been in that spot since the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Has anyone ever presented you with a such a nice plaque? The second photo is to give you a feel for the breadth of the tree by showing the Gilpin House in the background, and the third photo lets you gauge the height of the tree.