HIST 386 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Henry Knox, Black Pepper
The Campaigns of 1777-1779: The North and the
West
Philadelphia and Saratoga
The capture of Philadelphia was ultimately a setback for the British because it did not
lead to the capture of the Continental Congress or end the rebellion.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Analyze the impact the British capture of Philadelphia had on the course of the Revolutionary
War
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Key Points
• On September 26, 1777, British forces under General William Howe captured
Philadelphia, the rebel capital.
• In late September 1777, the Continental Congress abandoned Philadelphia,
relocating to York, Pennsylvania.
• Though Howe successfully captured the Patriot capital, he neglected the
concurrent campaign of General John Burgoyne further north.
• Without Howe’s support, Burgoyne’s operation ended in disaster at Saratoga
and brought France into the conflict, effectively costing the British the war.
• General Howe resigned during the occupation of Philadelphia and was
replaced by his second-in-command, General Sir Henry Clinton.
Key Terms
• Philadelphia Campaign: A British initiative in 1777–1778 during the American
Revolutionary War to gain control of Philadelphia, which was then the seat of
the Second Continental Congress.
• John Burgoyne: A British army officer, politician, and dramatist. He first saw
action during the Seven Years’ War when he participated in several battles,
most notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762.
• William Howe: A British army officer who rose to become commander-in-chief
of British forces during the American War of Independence.
The Philadelphia campaign (1777–1778) was a successful British initiative to gain
control of Philadelphia, the seat of the Second Continental Congress. Following his
unsuccessful attempt to draw Continental Army General George Washington into a
battle in northern New Jersey, British General William Howe instead turned his
attention toward Philadelphia.
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William Howe, 1777: Despite his victories in New York and Philadelphia, Howe resigned in October 1777, in
response to his role in the British defeat at Saratoga.
In 1777, General Howe began mobilizing his forces for an assault on the city-state. In
late August, he landed 15,000 troops at the northern end of Chesapeake Bay, 50
miles southwest of Philadelphia. General Washington positioned 11,000 men
between Howe and Philadelphia, but was outflanked and driven back at the Battle of
Brandywine on September 11, 1777. The Continental Army suffered over 1,000
casualties in this exchange; the British lost 500. The Continental Congress
abandoned Philadelphia, relocating to York, Pennsylvania. British and Revolutionary
forces skirmished west of Philadelphia for several days, but on September 26, Howe
marched into Philadelphia unopposed.
Though Howe successfully captured the Patriot capital, he neglected the concurrent
campaign of General John Burgoyne further north. Burgoyne believed that isolating
New York and New England from the rest of the colonies would result in a decisive
victory for the British and possibly even an end to the war. In June 1777, Burgoyne
marched south from Quebec toward Albany with 8,000 troops severely weakened by
Patriot efforts to cut off British supply lines via raids and scorched earth tactics. By
September 19th, Burgoyne won a small tactical victory against Continental General
Horatio Gates at the Battle of Freeman’s Farm, the First Battle of Saratoga. The cost
to the British forces was monumental with a total of 600 casualties, or 10 percent of
troops. Desertions began to further reduce the size of the British army and critical
supplies, including food, were constantly in short supplies. Skirmishing continued
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after the battle for days while Burgoyne waited for reinforcements from New York
City.
Meanwhile, a steady stream of Patriot militias swelled the ranks of the Continental
Army to over 15,000 men. Burgoyne, who had put his army on short rations in early
October, decided to launch a desperate reconnaissance mission and attack the left
flank of the Continental Army with only 1,700 troops. The British were quickly
defeated at the Battle of Bemis Heights, or the Second Battle of Saratoga, with nearly
900 casualties versus the mere 150 suffered by the Continental Army. Burgoyne
surrendered his army to the Patriots on October 17, marking the end of British control
of the North.
Howe’s decision to capture Philadelphia in late September left Burgoyne without the
crucial support he needed to defeat the Patriots. As such, Burgoyne’s operation
ended in disaster for the British at Saratoga and brought France into the war. General
Howe resigned during the occupation of Philadelphia and was replaced by his
second-in-command, General Sir Henry Clinton. In 1778, Clinton evacuated troops
from Philadelphia to increase British defenses in New York City. Washington,
however, managed to intercept the evacuating forces at the New Jersey Monmouth
Court House, resulting in one of the largest and most infamous battles of the
Revolutionary War.
“Residence of Washington in High Street, Philadelphia” by William L. Breton, ca. 1828–30: Howe made
this house his headquarters during the British occupation of Philadelphia.
The Aftermath of Saratoga
The Patriot victory at Saratoga, a major turning point in the war, effectively ended the
British military presence in the North.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Analyze the significance of the colonists’ victory at Saratoga
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Document Summary
The campaigns of 1777-1779: the north and the. The capture of philadelphia was ultimately a setback for the british because it did not lead to the capture of the continental congress or end the rebellion. Analyze the impact the british capture of philadelphia had on the course of the revolutionary. Key points: on september 26, 1777, british forces under general william howe captured. Key terms: philadelphia campaign: a british initiative in 1777 1778 during the american. Revolutionary war to gain control of philadelphia, which was then the seat of the second continental congress: john burgoyne: a british army officer, politician, and dramatist. The philadelphia campaign (1777 1778) was a successful british initiative to gain control of philadelphia, the seat of the second continental congress. Following his unsuccessful attempt to draw continental army general george washington into a battle in northern new jersey, british general william howe instead turned his attention toward philadelphia.
