The Battle of Cooch's Bridge
The first battle in the British effort to capture Philadelphia, September 3rd, 1777.
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1
British Troops Land at Head of Elk
In 1777, the British controlled New York City and decided their next goal was to capture the American capital Philadelphia. Not wanting to march overland through New Jersey, they decided to travel by water. With the Delaware Bay and River well-guarded, the British sailed up the Chesapeake Bay, into the Elk River. Troops experienced a hard voyage, landing at Head of Elk five weeks after leaving New York. Preparing to defend Philadelphia, Washington moved 11,000 troops to Wilmington, DE.
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Digging In
With advance knowledge of where the British Army was situated provided by scouts, Washington’s troops dug in on a diagonal line.
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The Cooches
Thomas and Sarah Cooch were living peacefully at Cooch's Bridge. After learning the British and American troops were nearby, they fled to Philadelphia. The Cooches were not Patriots or Tories, they were uninvolved and trying to get away from the path of the battle.
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British on the Move
Cornwallis began to move a portion of his soldiers from Head of Elk to the town of Christiana Creek.
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Washington Sends Soldiers to Meet Cornwallis
American troops led by General William Maxwell were sent to delay the British advance. These 800 Continental soldiers were given orders to "provide every possible annoyance to the enemy".
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Fighting (Annoying the Enemy) Begins
American troops begin firing on the advancing British troops at 9:00 a.m., about two miles south of Cooch's Bridge. Americans borrowed tactics Native Americans had used on colonists in the past. Soldiers would fire on the British then hide behind a tree or rock, using the land to their advantage and confusing the British.
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Gun Fight Turns Into a Sword Fight
Firing and retreating into the woods, the Americans ran out of ammunition as they reached Cooch’s Bridge. As the battle descended into hand-to-hand combat, the British utilized their bayonets. Not all Continental soldiers were equipped with muskets to accommodate a bayonet.
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Americans Retreat
Outnumbered by the British, the Americans fell back and rejoined the main Continental Army. The British did not cross Cooch's Bridge and they occupied Iron Hill for now. The Americans prepared to stop the British from marching to Philadelphia.
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A Trick!
The British sent a small force to distract the American forces, meanwhile, the rest of their army went west, around the Continental Army, into Pennsylvania toward Chadds Ford.
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Another Meeting
After Washington found out the British had gotten around his army, he hurries his troops to Chadds Ford to try to stop the British there.
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The Battle of Brandywine
One of the largest battles of the Revolution! 1,000 Americans are killed, wounded, or missing at the end of the day September 11, 1777.
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Winter in Wilmington
After the Battle of the Brandywine, the victorious British army sent some troops to occupy Wilmington, DE. Capturing Delaware’s president (governor) John McKinly and sending him off to a prison ship. The rest of the British army marched to Philadelphia and quickly took control from the retreating Continental army.
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The Cooches Return
Thomas and Sarah came back to find their mill was burned to the ground and their house was damaged, but they had survived.
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A Very (Not) Merry Christmas
As a result of the loss, the Americans spend a long, cold, winter camped at Valley Forge while the British were warm and cozy inside homes in Philadelphia and Wilmington. George Washington needed to find a way to win the war. If you could give advice to George Washington or an American soldier to help them win the war, what would it be?