Today in History

On September 26, 1777, British troops... marched into Philadelphia and occupied the city forcing the Continental Congress, meeting in the Pennsylvania State House (later renamed Independence Hall), to flee to the interior of Pennsylvania. General Washington and his Army had battled the British south of Philadelphia at Brandywine Creek on September 11. That evening, Washington sent a letter to the Continental Congress reporting the outcome:

I am sorry to inform you that in this day's engagement we have been obliged to leave the enemy masters of the field. Unfortunately the intelligence received of the enemy's advancing up the Brandywine, and crossing at a Ford about six miles above us, was uncertain and contradictory, notwithstanding all my pains to get the best . . . Our loss of men is not, I am persuaded, very considerable; I believe much less than the enemy's . . . Notwithstanding the misfortune of the day, I am happy to find the troops in good spirits; and I hope another time we shall compensate for the losses now sustained. . .

The Marquis La Fayette was wounded in the leg, and General Woodford in the hand. Divers other officers were wounded, and some slain, but the numbers of either cannot now be ascertained.

I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient humble servant,

G. WASHINGTON.

P. S. It has not been in my power to send you earlier intelligence; the present being the first leisure moment I have had since the action.

Letter, George Washington to Continental Congress, September 11, 1777.
George Washington Papers, 1741-1799

Washington's attempts to hold the British outside of Philadelphia failed. While the British occupied the city, Washington and his Army took up winter quarters at Valley Forge. Supplies and morale were low as the troops braved the snow and near starvation. The soldiers of the War for Independence endured bleak times at Valley Forge.

In the spring of 1778, the British hastily left Philadelphia for New York City out of concern that the new alliance between the French and Americans would result in a French blockade of the Delaware River. Washington pursued, marching his men to the Jersey coast where the war continued.

Learn more about Continental Congress and the Revolutionary War:

• See the special presentation To Form a More Perfect Union: An Introduction to the Congressional Documents in Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789.
• Search on Valley Forge in the George Washington Papers, 1741-1799. See, for example, a map showing the original plan for the defense of the Valley Forge Camp, dating from late 1777 or early 1778.
• See Volume IX and Volume X of the Journals of the Continental Congress in A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation.
• Search the Today in History Archive on Revolutionary War. Read, for example, about General Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown.