9/11 is overwhelmingly remembered by Americans for that tragic day in 2001 when Al Qaeda hijackers transformed commercial airliners into weapons and attacked the Twin Towers and Washington DC.
Chadd's Ford, PA
But 9/11 was a fateful day in American history long before the 21st Century. On September 11, 1777 the Battle of Brandywine Creek near Philadelphia was fought. 11,000 soldiers of the Continental Army led by George Washington were defeated by about 18,000 Redcoats and German troops led by Lord Howe.
|Continental & Redcoat|
Brandywine Battlefield Museum
"Pennsylvania was, of course, to play a central role in the American Revolution, including hosting the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, in 1776. Later that
year, it saw Washington launch his famous Crossing of the Delaware to surprise Hessian troops in Trenton, New Jersey. It was also the site of the hugely significant Philadelphia Campaign. A British landing in Chesapeake Bay led to Washington’s defeat at the Battle of Brandywine Creek on September 11, 1777, and the British capture of Philadelphia, seat of the Continental Congress and capital of the Revolution. Another British victory at the Battle of Germantown in October left Philadelphia in British hands and Washington’s forces wintering at Valley Forge. In 1778, though, as the French more determinedly entered the war, the British forces in Philadelphia were forced to withdraw to defend New York City."
Today a visitor to the beautiful rolling hills of eastern Pennsylvania will find the Brandywine Battlefield Historic site (http://brandywinebattlefield.org/) just off of old highway 1.
Benjamin Ring House
|Gilpin Farm and Brandywine Sycamore|
Many of the Pennsylvania residents of the area were Quakers with Tory sympathies. Some still blame these Quaker locals for having betrayed Washington's army at the Battle of Brandywine by supplying local intelligence to the British.
|Marquis de Lafayette|
1757 - 1834
Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia
In the Virginia chapter of America Invaded (www.americainvaded.com) we noted...
"Washington was an imperfect military commander—he lost more battles than he won. He was, however, a tremendous motivator of men, who endured their hardships while on campaign at Valley Forge and elsewhere. He was a paragon of integrity. Moreover, he won the really important battles of the war. Washington became the “indispensable man” of the American Revolution."
Yards Brewing Co, Philadelphia, PA
|The author as Redcoat|
Brandywine Battelfield Museum
Signed copies of America Invaded: A State by State Guide to Fighting on American Soil can now be found at the Brandywine Battlefield gift shop and on this web site...www.americainvaded.com
|The author as Patriot|
Brandywine Battlefield Museum
Regular copies may be purchased from Amazon...www.amzn.com/0692902406
Or on Kindle...www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK
Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3