Welcome to Brandywine

This staff ride deals with General William Howe's successful campaign to take Philadelphia, the American capitol, in 1777, and includes the battles of Brandywine and the so-called Paoli massacre, as well as the winter at Valley Forge.

The fundamental issue for the British is whether they can destroy Washington's army and end the rebellion; for the Americans it is one of survival. But there is more to it than that. George Washington has achieved only two minor victories the previous winter, Trenton and Princeton, and Brandywine appears to be a fiasco. During the winter of 1777-78 he confronts an attempt to replace him as commander-in-chief. What were Washington's strengths and weaknesses as a leader? How well did he handle the threat to his authority? And what really were the long term consequences of the bitter winter at Valley Forge? On the British side we will ask about leadership styles as well, and confront the strategic problems posed by the half-conventional, half-guerrilla nature of the American war.