In the spring of 1777, Howe decided to abandon New Jersey and invade Pennsylvania by sea. In July he re-embarked at Staten Island with more than two hundred ships and landed south of Philadelphia at Head-of-Elk, Maryland. Washington's army at that time was near Wilmington and moved to a blocking position at Brandywine Creek. From September 9 to 11, Howe maneuvered his army as Washington prepared his defenses. Because of inadequate reconnaissance and confusion, Washington was driven back in an otherwise indecisive battle and retreated toward Philadelphia. Washington lost about one thousand men to some five hundred British casualties.
On September 19 General Anthony Wayne was routed by a surprise British night attack at Paoli, and Congress evacuated Philadelphia, eventually setting up in York, Pennsylvania. Supplies were removed to Reading for safekeeping, and Congress granted Washington more authority to deal with the critical situation. On September 26 the British entered the city of Philadelphia unopposed and were warmly welcomed by the loyalist population.
On October 4 Washington began an attack on Howe's base at Germantown. After some initial success, the battlefield again became disorganized because of fog and confusion, and Washington withdrew with losses of seven hundred casualties and four hundred captured. Howe settled into Philadelphia, and Washington moved into winter quarters at Valley Forge. Although Washington had suffered two defeats, neither proved to be disastrous. Nevertheless, because of expired enlistments and for other reasons, Washington's army had dwindled considerably in size, and he found himself critically short of supplies.
Valley Forge. Although winter quarters at Morristown in 1776-77 and 1778-79 were painful experiences for Washington's men, Valley Forge is remembered as a time of particular hardship. It was said that the path into the camp could be traced by the bloody footprints in the snow, and during the long cold winter Washington's soldiers struggled just to keep from freezing and to find enough food to stay alive. During the bitter winter, however, the Prussian general, Baron von Steuben, who had served on the staff of Frederick the Great, drilled and trained the American troops, imparting discipline and tactical skills.
(It was reported that the good Baron, whose English was imperfect, used an American aide to swear for him, as he had difficulty managing American curse words.)
The Conway Cabal also occurred in the fall of 1777, a reminder of the constant intrusion of politics into the American ranks. Disgruntled Irish Colonel Thomas Conway tried to undermine Washington, but the so-called plot never got anywhere. It was a distraction the commander in chief hardly needed, but Conway resigned and later apologized to Washington.
On February 6, 1778, France and America concluded an alliance by signing two treaties, a treaty of amity and commerce and a military alliance. The nations exchanged ambassadors, and France and England were soon at war. Parliament soon passed bills calling for reconciliation with America and sent a peace commission to Philadelphia to try to achieve a settlement. The Americans, however, refused to accept the commission and declared that any person who met with the commission would be branded an enemy of the United States. Congress responded that the only basis for reconciliation would be a full withdrawal of all British troops from American soil and recognition of American independence. The war would continue.
The Battle of Monmouth. In May Sir Henry Clinton replaced General Howe and, hearing that a French fleet was en route to America, decided to move his army back to New York. The Americans reoccupied Philadelphia on June 18, and Washington decided to pursue the retreating British across New Jersey. On June 28 Washington caught up with the British at Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey. General Charles Lee was in command of an advance unit with orders to attack at the first opportunity. Orders to Generals Lafayette and Anthony Wayne became confused, and Lee precipitously ordered a retreat, which brought on a counterattack by Clinton.
Washington soon arrived on the scene and, furious at Lee's order for retreat, is said to have sworn so forcefully that the leaves shook on the trees. Washington rallied his men, and with the discipline instilled by the training of Baron von Steuben, the Americans met the British squarely. Although the outcome was indecisive, it was clear that the Americans had fought the British to a standstill. Clinton withdrew and took his army back into New York, and Washington moved north of the city and settled into camp near White Plains, about twenty miles north of Manhattan.
-with Clinton boxed in in New York, and
The war in the North thus remained a staiemate-Washington holding the Hudson River line.
World History
