Battle+of+Germantown



Emily McGuckinMr. Reinstein US History 1 22 December 2011

**__The Battle of Germantown 1777 __** __The Battle's Background Information:__ **Battle:** Germantown Winner: The British and Hessian troops
 * Date:** 4th October 1777
 * Place:** North of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the USA
 * Armies**: American troops versus the English and Hessian troops
 * Generals**: General George Washington against Major General William Howe
 * Troops**: 11,000 American troops against 8,000 British and Hessian troops

__The Battle:__ The Battle of Germantown took place on October 4, 1777 at Germantown, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania, at this time, was the capital of the country. The battle was between the British Army led by [|Sir William Howe]  and the  American army led by George Washington. The campaign for Philadelphia began rather badly for George Washington and his troops. Over the past couple battles the American troops had lost over and over. Their defeat at [|Brandywine] and [|Paoli]left Philadelphia defenseless. Howe had divided his troops leaving Germantown with 9,728 troops. Washington reailzed that with Howe’s troops divided, that would be the best time for an attack.

The English were fighting with the [|Hessian Army.] The Hessian comander was [|Wilhelm von Knyphausen] and his troops were set up above the mouth of the [|Wissahickon Creek.] The American forces had marched 16 miles toward Germantown. The Americans arrived very early in the morning and the British and Hessian forces didn’t detect them until dawn. Howe and his troops continued forward thinking that they were only being attacked by light infantry. It took a large portion of the American troops to overwhelm he British and drive them back into Germantown. The stone house where many of the British officers were staying was called [|Cliveden.] The English and Hessian troops fought back and it became clear that Cliveden was not going to be given up easily.

The Battle went on for hours, and the American troops were forced to retreat back 9 miles from Germantown. The causualties for the American troops were very servere. Washington started out with 11,000 men and 152 of the men died.This included officers like [|Francis Nash] and soliders. Another 521 men were wounded. An officail causalty report said that more than 400 men were taken prisoner. This included Colonel Mathews and the entire [|9th Virginia Regiment.]British causlties were not as servere with only 71 men killed and 448 wounded. Out of all the men killed, wounded, or injured only 24 of them were Hessian soliders. Some historians say that if Washington’s orgiinal plan had been executed succesfuly this, along with the English surrender at the [|Battle of Saratoga,] could have brought an end to the war. MAP OF GERMANTOWN BATTLE __HISTORICAL FIGURES__ **__William Alexander__**

[|Major General William Alexander] was born in 1726, in New York City to a wealthy, educated family. Alexander was a vetern of the [|French and Indian War.] Alexander was made a colonel in the New Jersey Militia when the [|American Revolutionary War]began. Alexander, like [|George Washington,] he supplied his troops with everything that they needed because he was very wealthy and he was able to supply the supplies. At the [|Battle of Long Island,] Alexander and his troops were outnumbered 25 to 1. Alexander put up a gallent defense and let his troops in the rear-guard action which allowed most of his men to escape to Brooklyn Heights. He was captured in this battle but was eventually traded back for one of the British military officers. Though the Americans were defeated, this act of bravery earned Alexander the admiration of both George Washington and the British. Because of his bravery, one newspaper called him, "The bravest man in America."

__ Charles Cornwallis __

 [|General Charles Cornwallis] was the general of the British Army in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in December of 1738 into an aristocratic and educated family. Before the war, he served as a civil and military governer in Ireland and India. During the Revolutionary War, Cornwallis’ monarch was [|King George the third.] In 1766 Cornwallis actually voted along with five other peers against the [|Stamp Act,] out of sympathy with the American colonists. During the American Revolutionary War, Cornwallis was made a General for the British Army. During the Battle of Germantown, Cornwallis played a key role in the battle. However at the [|Battle of Yorktown,] Cornwallis and his troops surrendered to the American forces. Cornwallis would not meet with Washington to negotiate the terms of surrender and had [|Brigidier General Charles O'hara] present Washington Cornwallis’ sword. This eventually ended the American Revolutionary War.

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