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BRANDYWINE

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Originally appearing in Volume V04, Page 430 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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BRANDYWINE , the name of a stream in See also:

Pennsylvania and See also:Delaware, U.S.A., which runs into the Delaware See also:river a few See also:miles See also:east of See also:Wilmington, Delaware. It is famous as the See also:scene of the See also:battle of Brandywine in the See also:American See also:War of See also:Independence, fought on the 11th of See also:September 1777 about 10 m. See also:north-See also:west of Wilmington, and a few miles inside the Pennsylvania border. See also:Sir See also:William See also:Howe, the See also:British See also:commander-in-See also:chief, while opposed to See also:Washington's See also:army in New See also:Jersey, had formed the See also:plan of capturing See also:Philadelphia from the See also:south See also:side by a See also:movement by See also:sea to the See also:head of Delaware See also:Bay. But contrary winds and accidents delayed the British transports so See also:long that Washington, who was at first puzzled, was able to divine his opponents' intentions in See also:time; and rapidly moving to the threatened point he occupied a strong entrenched position at the fords over the Brandywine, 25 M. south-west of Philadelphia. Here on the See also:lath of September the British attacked him. Howe's plan, which was carefully worked out and exactly executed, was to deliver an energetic feint attack against the American front, to take a strong See also:column 12 M. Up the stream, and See also:crossing beyond Washington's right to attack his entrenchments in See also:rear. Washington was successfully held in See also:play during the movement, and See also:General See also:Sullivan, the commander of the American right wing, misled by the conflicting intelligence which reached him from up-stream, was surprised about See also:noon by definite See also:information as to the approach of See also:Cornwallis on his right rear. Changing front " right back " in the dense See also:country, he yet managed to oppose a stubborn resistance to the flanking attack, and with other troops that were hurried to the scene his See also:division held its ground for a time near See also:Birmingham See also:meeting-See also:house. But Howe pressed his attack sharply and drove back the Americans for 2 m.; the holding attack of the British right was converted into a real one, and by nightfall Washington was in full See also:retreat north-See also:ward toward See also:Chester, protected by General See also:Greene and a steady rear-guard, which held off Howe's column for the necessary time. The British were too exhausted to pursue, and See also:part of Howe's force was inextricably mixed up with the advancing troops of the frontal attack. The American loss in killed, wounded and prisoners was about 1000; that of the British less than 600.

Howe followed up his victory, and on the 27th of September entered Philadelphia.

End of Article: BRANDYWINE

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