The 19-year-old French nobleman who saved Washington’s life at Brandywine

Washington’s Flanked Defense and Lafayette’s Baptism by Fire

On September 11, 1777, George Washington took a big risk. He put 15,000 troops along Brandywine Creek to stop the British from taking Philadelphia.

What he didn’t know was that local loyalists had shown the British two unguarded fords. While 7,000 British troops kept Washington busy at Chadds Ford, another 8,500 marched 17 miles to hit his right flank.

In the chaos, 19-year-old Marquis de Lafayette got his first taste of battle. The young Frenchman took a bullet through his leg but still helped organize the retreat until dark.

Today, Brandywine Creek State Park marks where America’s largest Revolutionary War battle unfolded.

Philly Became Howe’s Target After New York Victory

British General Howe set his sights on Philadelphia after taking New York City. He skipped plans to help General Burgoyne up north and went after America’s rebel capital instead.

Howe gathered nearly 300 ships to carry about 16,000 troops. The huge fleet left Sandy Hook, New Jersey on July 23, 1777.

Washington had to guess where they were going. He thought Philadelphia was the target and moved his Continental Army to block the British.

This guessing game led to the biggest battle of the Revolutionary War.

Storms Turned the British Sea Journey into a Nightmare

The British fleet struggled through a miserable 34-day trip down the Atlantic coast. Howe first planned to sail up the Delaware River to reach Philadelphia.

Mother Nature had other plans. Fierce storms scattered ships and made crossing brutal.

Horses died in large numbers, and many soldiers got sick during the month at sea. When Howe learned about American forts blocking the river below Philadelphia, he changed course.

His new plan took the fleet all the way to Chesapeake Bay.

Washington marched his army through Philadelphia on August 24 to show city folks the Continental Army was ready to defend them.

The British Landing Created a Logistical Headache

Howe’s fleet started unloading 15,000-17,000 troops at Head of Elk (now Elkton, Maryland) on August 25, 1777. The narrow, shallow Elk River caused huge problems.

Bigger ships got stuck in mud, forcing troops to use small flatboats to reach land. Washington put his 20,300 Continental troops between the British landing spot and Philadelphia.

He set up his headquarters in Wilmington to run the defense.

American scouts kept watch from Iron Hill near Newark, Delaware, about nine miles from the British position.

Washington Chose Brandywine Creek as His Defensive Line

Washington picked Brandywine Creek for his defense, thinking he could force Howe to attack head-on at Chadds Ford. The American commander moved into Benjamin Ring’s house on September 9, just one mile east of the creek.

From there, he could see the whole battlefield. General Knox placed Continental cannons on high ground on both sides of the water to control crossing points.

Washington gave specific generals spots to guard: Armstrong watched Pyle’s Ford, Wayne and Greene covered Chadds Ford, and Sullivan guarded Brinton’s Ferry.

Local Loyalists Revealed Secret Fords to the British

Local king supporters gave Howe valuable information about two unguarded fords north of Washington’s position: Trimble’s and Jefferies.

Washington didn’t know these crossing points existed because his scouts missed them and local Patriots never mentioned them.

Howe planned the same flanking move that worked perfectly at Long Island, splitting his army into two groups. The British gathered at Kennett Square on September 10, just five miles from the American army.

Washington had no idea about the trap about to spring on his right flank.

Thick Morning Fog Hid British Movements

Heavy fog covered the battlefield when the British started moving at 5:00 AM on September 11, 1777. Howe and Cornwallis led 8,500 troops on a tough 17-mile march around Washington’s right flank.

The journey took nine hours to finish. General von Knyphausen moved toward Chadds Ford with 6,800 men as a distraction.

The largest single-day battle of the American Revolution began with more than 30,000 soldiers ready to fight.

Washington still thought the main attack would come straight across Chadds Ford, exactly where he wanted to fight.

British Troops Appeared Behind American Lines

The British flanking force crossed the creek without being seen at Trimble’s and Jefferies fords, circling behind Washington’s right flank.

Around 2:00 PM, Howe’s troops suddenly showed up on Osbourne’s Hill, taking high ground north of the Continental Army.

Colonel Bland’s scouts finally spotted the threat and sent word to Washington, who didn’t believe the reports at first.

When he realized the danger, Washington told General Sullivan to rush north and form a new defensive line.

Continental divisions under Sullivan, Stirling, and Stephen raced toward Birmingham Meetinghouse, trying to block the British advance.

Lafayette Got Shot in His First Battle

The 19-year-old Marquis de Lafayette jumped into the thickest fighting at Birmingham Hill around 4:00 PM. This was his very first battle, serving as a volunteer major general with something to prove.

As Virginia troops started to back away under heavy British fire, Lafayette rode forward to rally them. He tried to organize counterattacks as Pennsylvania troops began to panic.

A British musket ball tore through his leg during the desperate fighting.

Despite bleeding badly, the young Frenchman stayed on the battlefield, helping create rally points for an orderly withdrawal.

American Defenses Crumbled Under Pressure

The British Brigade of Guards caught General de Borre’s division by surprise on the American left before they could get into position.

Light infantry and German Jaegers forced Stephen’s division to retreat while grenadier battalions broke through Stirling’s center with fierce bayonet charges.

Knyphausen launched his attack across Chadds Ford once he heard Howe’s guns, smashing through Wayne and Maxwell’s weakened divisions.

American gunners had to abandon most of their artillery as British forces pushed forward from multiple directions. The carefully planned defense fell apart as Continental troops retreated in growing disorder.

Greene’s Division Saved the Continental Army

General Nathanael Greene’s division conducted a crucial rearguard action at Dilworthtown, preventing the British from surrounding the retreating American army.

Polish General Casimir Pulaski protected Washington’s rear, buying time for thousands of Continental soldiers to escape northeast toward Chester.

Seventeen-year-old Sergeant Andrew Wallace of the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment helped carry the wounded Lafayette from the battlefield.

Darkness finally ended the British pursuit around 7:00 PM, allowing American stragglers to reach Chester by midnight. Many more arrived throughout the morning as Washington gathered his defeated army.

The Battle Launched Lafayette’s American Career

The battle cost the British 583 killed and wounded while the Americans lost about 1,200-1,300 men plus 400 captured.

British forces took Philadelphia without opposition on September 26, but failed to destroy Washington’s army. Lafayette’s bravery under fire started his legendary American career.

Washington grew fond of the young Frenchman, eventually giving him an independent command. Lafayette’s reports back to France helped convince King Louis XVI that Americans could stand up to British power.

This battle, though a defeat, helped secure the French alliance that proved vital to winning American independence.

Visiting Brandywine Creek State Park, Delaware

Brandywine Creek State Park at 41 Adams Dam Road in Wilmington covers the area where Lafayette fought his first battle and Washington defended Philadelphia in 1777.

You can explore 14 miles of hiking trails including Rocky Run Trail along the creek where the largest single-day Revolutionary War battle happened. The nature center has exhibits about the area’s history.

Admission costs $4 for Delaware residents, $8 for others from March through November.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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