Photo By Lori Stewart | Battle of Brandywine, steel engraving from Sparkes’ The Life of George Washington (1830)... read more read more
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by Lori S. Stewart, USAICoE Command Historian
CONFLICTING REPORTS AT BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE
On Sep. 11, 1777, General George Washington’s Continental Army suffered a devastating two-prong attack by the British army under General William Howe on the bank of Brandywine Creek. Conflicting reports on the enemy’s locations made it difficult for Washington to properly position his forces to repel the British advances.
After more than two years of war, General Howe hoped to end the conflict with the Americans by capturing their capital at Philadelphia. On Aug. 25, 1777, Howe sailed his army from New York to the northernmost point of Chesapeake Bay. From there, he began his march toward the capital. When Washington received information from scout Allen McLane about Howe’s movements, he established a defensive position on the east bank of Brandywine Creek about 25 miles southwest of Philadelphia. He centered his 16,000-man army at Chadds Ford and also covered the closest crossings to the north and south, those he believed Howe would most likely use.
Howe, however, was well informed by local loyalists, as well as his own scouts and cavalry, of Washington’s location and of the various crossings on the Brandywine. In a move reminiscent of the defeat of the Continental Army on Long Island the previous August, Howe divided his army into two columns. Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis and 8,000 men would cross the creek at two unguarded fords—Trimble’s and Jeffries’—about 6 miles further north of Washington’s positions. This column would then turn southeast to attack Washington’s right flank. Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Wilhelm von Knyphausen's column of roughly 7,000 men would engage the Americans at Chadds Ford. Washington would be trapped against the Brandywine.
Early on the foggy morning of Sep. 11, Washington’s light infantry began harassing Knyphausen’s column as it moved toward Chadds Ford. At about 0900, both armies unleashed a massive cannonade on the other’s line. Meanwhile, Cornwallis, accompanied by Howe, led his column toward the two unprotected fords. One of Washington’s junior officers watched Cornwallis’ progress and sent a report to Washington at about 1100. Roughly 20 minutes later, however, Washington received a report from another officer positioned even further to the north. This report advised Washington that no British troops had been seen in his sector. Throughout the morning, Washington received additional conflicting reports from his scouts and at least one local resident, confusing him as to whether Howe had split his army or massed it at Chadds Ford.
Washington sent Col. Theodorick Bland’s 1st Continental Light Dragoons north to clarify the situation. Bland reported back that the British had already crossed the creek and were roughly 2 miles from Washington’s right flank. Washington sent three divisions under Maj. Gens. Lord Stirling, Adam Stephen, and John Sullivan to counter Cornwallis and Howe at Birmingham Hill. Initially successful at repelling the British, the outnumbered Americans could not hold the line long. Meanwhile, Knyphausen attacked across Chadds Ford, where he was met by a strong American defense by Brig. Gens. Anthony Wayne and William Maxwell, and Maj. Gen. John Armstrong.
Washington, knowing he could not defeat both British columns, ordered Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene to conduct a rear-guard action to stall the British while the forces at Birmingham Hill withdrew. At Chadds Ford, General Wayne held Knyphausen in check until nightfall, when the rest of the Continental Army withdrew under cover of darkness to Chester, Pennsylvania.
Later, Washington dictated a letter to the Continental Congress detailing the day’s fighting. He wrote, “Unfortunately the intelligence received of the enemy’s advancing up the Brandywine, & crossing at a ford about six miles above us, was uncertain & contradictory, notwithstanding all my pains to get the best.” Washington lamented, without adequate knowledge of the British strength and locations, he was unable to position his men to counter the British attack.
By the end of September, Howe marched his army into Philadelphia, capturing the capital without firing a shot. The British would hold the city for nine months until June 1778.
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| Date Taken: | 09.08.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2025 11:33 |
| Story ID: | 547519 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
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