The Philadelphia Campaign

One of the most important military episodes of the Revolutionary War, the complex Philadelphia Campaign of 1777, took place in locations throughout Chester County. Under General Howe, the British aimed to capture the colonial capital of Philadelphia, resulting in a series of battles in the autumn of 1777 that ended in the American encampment at Valley Forge. The Philadelphia Campaign showed the fortitude of Washington's fledgling colonial army against the well-trained, experienced British army, and helped lead to a turning point with support by France for the American cause.

Occurring in the early years of the war in the heart of the colonies, this key but often overlooked campaign stood out in terms of the number of combatants involved, battles fought, casualties sustained, and the face-off of the American and British generals. Though the British captured the colonial capital of Philadelphia, they were unable to crush the rebellion, capture Washington, or destroy the colonial army. This demonstrated the fortitude of the colonial army in our fight for freedom and illuminated weaknesses that caused us to strengthen our military training and tactics, as well as reach out to establish alliances — important lessons in the ongoing fight for freedom.

From the landing of Howe's army at the head of the Elk River at the top of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay in August 1777, the Philadelphia Campaign included a series of noteworthy battles: the hard-fought September 11, 1777 Battle of Brandywine, inconclusive Battle of the Clouds, controversial Battle of Paoli (a.k.a. Paoli Massacre), "Remember Paoli" became the first rallying cry of the Revolution and our Country, missed opportunity at Germantown, defense of Fort Mercer/Battle of Red Bank (and later looming British attack and American abandonment of the fort), bombardment on Fort Mifflin, with ending of the training of the colonial army at the Valley Forge encampment during the arduous winter of 1777 through spring 1778. In June 1778, the British evacuated Philadelphia. The heritage sites and landscapes preserved throughout Chester County and the surrounding region serve to tell this important story. Our Revolutionary beginnings set the stage for the creation of our nation, our Constitution, and our continuing re-evaluation of our founding principles.