Today from History: The Battle of Germantown: A Costly Defeat for George Washington’s Army in the American Revolutionary War

The Battle of Germantown was a significant engagement during the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War. It was fought on October 4, 1777, between the British Army led by Sir William Howe and the American Continental Army under George Washington. After outmaneuvering Washington, Howe had seized Philadelphia, leaving a garrison of 3,000 troops there and moving the bulk of his force to Germantown. Washington planned to surprise and destroy the British by converging four separate columns on their position. Despite a heavy fog causing confusion, Sullivan’s column routed the British pickets, but failed to capture the Chew House, leading to repeated American assaults with heavy casualties. The American reserve and Greene’s late-arriving wing collided in the fog, while the two militia columns diverted the attention of the British without making progress. Although the Americans were defeated, the French were impressed and decided to lend greater aid to them. The British did not pursue the Americans, turning their attention to clearing the Delaware River of obstacles. Despite the setback, Washington wintered and re-trained his forces at Valley Forge.

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