This painting depicts a scene from the Battle of Germantown, fought on October 4, 1777. Niderost, Eric. The battle was a decisive victory for the British. Defeats at Brandywine and Paoli enabled William Howe’s forces to occupy Philadelphia unopposed on September 26. The militia, under General William Smallwood, would target the British extreme right and rear. The Battle of Brandywine, fought just outside of Philadelphia on September 11, 1777, resulted in an overarching British victory and the conquest of the rebel seat of government. However, the victory provided few strategic gains for the British and the valiant effort of the Continental Army proved that the rebels could take on the full brunt of the British Army and survive, bolstering their confidence to fight another day. The Battle of Germantown In early October, Washington conceived a bold plan of attack on Howe's 9,000 troop garrison stationed in Germantown. This action diverted troops from Sullivan's main advance and also from Greene's, as some of his soldiers joined the assault. Agnew was not a major player in the battle, arriving on the scene towards the end of the day’s confused and intense fighting, but he was a British general nonetheless. It was fought on October 4, 1777 near Germantown, Pennsylvania. After Howe had occupied Philadelphia, Washington attacked British troops at Germantown. Created by Italian artist Xavier della Gatta in 1782, the painting vividly and accurately depicts the 1777 Battle of Germantown, part of the Philadelphia Campaign of the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Germantown. Washington’s soldiers were told to put a piece of white paper in their hats so they could tell the difference between friend and foe. The Battle of Germantown was a major engagement in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War.It was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania, between the British Army led by Sir William Howe, and the American Continental Army, with the 2nd Canadian Regiment, under George Washington.. … The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British Army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington. Today, the Revolutionary Germantown Festival keeps the tradition alive, energizing the community with a day of family entertainment and Battle of Germantown reenactments. Join in the festivities every year on the first Saturday of October. The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British Army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington. General John Sullivan would attack with the main force while General Nathanael Greene attacked on the flank. They held off the attack and inflicted around 1000 casualties on the Americans while only suffering around 500 themselves. The British pickets resisted American advance and fired their guns in alarm. In an article in sandcastles.netthe military journal of Lt. George Ewing, who fought in the Battle of Germantown was published. Howe had stationed two British brigades in the village, commanded by General James Grant, … Visit the Schedule of Events for more information. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial HighwayMount Vernon, Virginia 22121. As dawn approached o… The Battle of Germantown was a major engagement in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War.It was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania, between the British Army led by Sir William Howe, and the American Continental Army, with the 2nd Canadian Regiment, under George Washington.. After defeating the Continental Army at the Battle … Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. Contents. United States, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 6401 Germantown Ave - Cliveden. Voice over is text-to-speech version of script of the events of that foggy morning on October 4, 1777. In the darkness, the troops didn’t make the expected progress that was expected. After Howe had occupied Philadelphia, Washington attacked British troops at Germantown. The British recaptured their camp and then drove the weary Americans back to their original positions, relieving the men holed up in Cliveden. George Washigton's decision to attack British positions around Philadelphia in the fall of 1777 was a bold one that reflected his inherent confidence and gambler's nature. In the early fall of 1777, events did not fare well for George Washington’s army in Pennsylvania. This page was last changed on 23 August 2018, at 08:08. How Well Do You Know the Revolutionary War? On the right is a rendering of the Benjamin Chew House, where troops from the British 40th Regiment held off the attacking Continental Army in some of the bloodiest fighting of the battle. Every purchase supports the mission. Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Dept. As a result, the attack failed, and the American troops were forced to withdraw.. Combatants at the Battle of Germantown: The American Continental Army against the British and Hessian forces Generals at the Battle of Germantown… close to the highway, from which the farm fences, orchards, and inclosures extended back a considerable distance on each side. Want to preserve George WashingtonWilliam Howe legacy? The Battle of Germantown in Philadelphia was yet another in a string of defeats for the American General George Washington in the Revolutionary War, but like so many of Washington’s setbacks, he had an uncanny ability to come away from a stinging military loss with an overall gain or advantage. On the evening of October 3rd, the Continental Army began a 16-mile march toward Germantown with a force of 11,000 men. Despite losing the battle, Germantown actually helped the Americans in winning the war. On the night of October 3, four converging American columns began a sixteen-mile march towards Germantown. A heavy morning fog disoriented the American assault columns and led to a friendly fire incident between elements of Major General John Sullivan's right colum… Following the American defeat at the Battle of Brandywine in September, the British had occupied Philadelphia, the American capital. On the right is a rendering of the Benjamin Chew House, where troops from the British 40th Regiment held off the attacking Continental Army in some of the bloodiest fighting of the battle. Map of the United States: Battle Sites 1689-1945. A variety of activities for the whole family will be available at Cliveden and Historic Germantown sites. He decided to attack and destroy the enemy detachment at Germantown using a double envelopment. Battle of Germantown Definition: The Battle of Germantown was a military conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in North America during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The Battle of Germantown took place during the 1777 Philadelphia Campaign of the American Revolution (1775-1783). Battle of Germantown. General John Sullivan leading troops at the Battle of Brandywine fought prior to Battle of Germantown. Online Resources: List of Battles of the Revolutionary War; Battles of the American Revolution; American Battlefield Trust – Germantown; West Point – Table of … The British won this battle thus … Howe's losses included 70 killed and 451 wounded. Battle of Germantown 1777. Spend the day with us! As the attack was to occur before dawn, the soldiers were instructed to put a piece of white paper on their hat to identify friend from foe.The Americans were not detected b… Washington’s Army lost roughly 700 men killed and wounded. The Washington Library is open to all researchers and scholars, by appointment only. This painting depicts a scene from the Battle of Germantown, fought on October 4, 1777. Reference Maps on the American Revolution 1775-1783. The Battle of Germantown was yet another British victory with staggering consequences for the Continental Army: 700 men were killed, and 400 were captured. Casualties - American casualties were estimated to be 152 killed, 521 wounded, and 438 missing/captured. The Continental Army had suffered defeats trying to protect the city at the Battles of Brandywine and Paoli. Commanders:American: George WashingtonBritish: William Howe, American Casualties: Killed: 152Wounded: 521Captured: 438, British Casualties: Killed: 71Wounded: 448Missing: 14. Military Heritage 6 (February 2005): 46-55. The loss was devastating for the Americans and proved to be a decisive victory for the British because it came after … The Americans planned a four pronged attack. It called for the simultaneous advance of four different units of troops — moving by night. Facts about the Battle of Germantown. The morning was foggy, and American coordination broke down. Mount Vernon is owned and maintained in trust for the people of the United States by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, a private, non-profit organization. The battlefield … Explore Germantown and its historic sites to learn how the American Revolution and the Battle of Germantown affected people in 1777. Thus began the Battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777, that early foggy morning just north of Philadelphia. close to the highway, from which the farm fences, orchards, and inclosures extended back a considerable distance on each side. They were hoping … Following the American defeat at the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777, the British Army captured Philadelphia, the seat of the Continental Congress. Ill-armed, still worse clothed, mostly unshod, scantily fed, discipline lacking, and poorly officered; these and more were accurate descriptions of the American Army that fled to the … On the evening of October 3rd, the Continental Army began a 16-mile march toward Germantown with a force of 11,000 men. The British were so shocked to find a large force of American soldiers that some were cut off from the main body; 120 men under British Colonel Musgrave took shelter in the large stone house of Chief Justice Benjamin Chew, known as Cliveden. The Battle of Germantown was fought on 4 October 1777 in Germantown, Pennsylvania, which is now a neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia.The battle occurred when George Washington led an army of 11,000 Continental Army troops to attack William Howe's divided army of 9,000 British and Hessian troops as it split … For the past 60 years, the image shown below has puzzled historians. The Philadelphia Campaign: Germantown and the Roads to Valley Forge. Only the steadfastness of Greene’s and Wayne’s men and the American artillery prevented a disaster. Here is his entry on page 23. Visit the Schedule of Events for more information. The Battle of Germantown was a major engagement in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British Army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington. On the left, one of Sullivan’s divisions, commanded by General Anthony Wayne, became separated in the fog. All Rights Reserved. The British won the battle. The Revolutionary Germantown Festival 2017 will be Saturday October 7. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. Background; British positions The War of the Revolution, 2 Vols. They held off the attack and inflicted around 1000 casualties on the Americans while only suffering around 500 themselves. Michael P. Gabriel, Ph.D.Kutztown University. The Battle of Germantown was part of the Philadelphia Campaign, which saw Philadelphia captured by the British on September 26. Around 5:30 in the morning, Sullivan's troops surprised Howe's advanced guard and forced it back towards Germantown in confusion as a dense fog blanketed the battlefield. October 3, 2020 - Full and probationary members of the British Brigade and Continental Line are invited to participate in the annual … Washington reinforced to 11,000 troops and decided to attack using a plan similar to the one that he employed at Trenton in December 1776. A late-comer to this list of folklore heroes was Hans Boyer, the supposed assailant of Gen. James Agnew at the battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777. In addition, the militia columns failed to envelop Howe's flanks. Map of the Battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777. The Battle of Germantown took place during the 1777 Philadelphia Campaign of the American Revolution (1775-1783). Sullivan's troops were running low on ammunition and slowed their advance before coming under a volley of friendly fire from Greene's men, who had become disoriented in the fog. Add to Google Calendar. After taking the American capital, British General Sir William Howe positioned two brigades under General James Grant and a contingent of Hessians troops commanded by General Wilhelm von Kynphausen in Germantown. Join in the festivities every year on the first Saturday of October. Fought less than a month after the British victory at the Battle of the Brandywine (September 11), the Battle of Germantown took … Washington set his plan into motion on the night of October 3. The British force in the village totaled 9,000 men. Following defeats at Brandywine, Paoli, and the British capture of Philadelphia on September 26, 1777, George Washington attempted to gain the initiative. Battle of Germantown, (October 4, 1777), in the American Revolution, abortive attack by 11,000 American troops upon 9,000 British regulars stationed at Germantown (now part of Philadelphia) under General Sir William Howe. British 40th Foot occupying the Chew House at the Battle of Germantown on 4th October 1777 in the American Revolutionary War: picture by Xavier della Gatta American guns fire on the Chew House at the Battle of Germantown on 4th October 1777 in the American Revolutionary War Map of the Battle of Germantown… Battle of Germantown 1777. This page was last changed on 23 August 2018, at 08:08. BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. The Battle of Germantown is reenacted there on the first Saturday of each October (except this year because of the pandemic). 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