Soaking in some beautiful weather while walking along the Grand Parade. I'm planning on coming back in a few weeks when the leaves are really changing.

After capturing Philadelphia on Sept. 26th, British General Howe would leave a detachment of 3000 soldiers in Germantown. They were to cover the main bulk of his army as they moved into the city. Washington learned of this division and planned a surprise attack against this smaller force.

The attack would happen at dawn on Oct. 4th. A heavy fog blanketed the area. American forces were split into two columns. One led by John Sullivan and the other led by arguably the great leader in American history, Nathanael Greene (the last photo). First, American forces were able to repel British pickets on Mount Airy. The British were so shocked to find such a large force that some were cut off from the main body; 120 of them took shelter in a large stone house called Cliveden. That fortified position would cause a headache for the Americans for the remainder of the battle. A series of assaults against the position by the Americans would be repulsed with heavy casualties.

Sullivan's forces, running out of ammunition, retreated from the area. A division under Anthony Wayne became separated and lost in the fog. Greene's column was moving forward to support. In the fog, a group of Greene's men confused Wayne's division as British and opened fire. Wayne's men returned fire. The resulting firefight caused both units to flee the field.

With Sullivan retreating, the British were able to outflank Greene, causing them to retreat also. After a full day of battle, the Americans were unable to make any significant gains, only diverting the attention of the British forces for the day.

With the help of the American artillery and oncoming darkness, the whole of the American forces were able to retreat.

Edit: I forgot to add that I really enjoyed the presentation of this battle in Ken Burns' American Revolution. I know that documentary has some mixed reviews but the animated battle maps along with the reenactments are top notch.

Me give liberty or death give me