The plans of Howe now became matters of deep interest, and engrossed a great share of Washing ton's vigilance and anxiety. With the full com mand of the ocean, and a powerful fleet, the thitish general possessed the means of landing his large army on any part of the long line of the American coast, and of attacking important positions while comparatively unprepared and defenceless. There were many points, anyone of which was well worthy of the labour of a special expedition; hut only two of these fixed Washington's attention, as likely to attract the immediate notice of his adversary. The mountainous passes commanding the navigation of' the North liver, had long been in the possession of the continentals, and were the sources of con stant annoyance to the British communications. As General Burgoyne was known to have assembled a great force upon the lakes, for the purpose of de scending upon the state of New York, it appeared probable that Sir William Howe would endeavour to effect a junction of the two armies, after forcing the American 'posts, and clearing the obstructions which they had so long presented. On the other hand, the capture of Philadelphia was an object of at least equal interest. and there were many cir cumstances connected with the British prepara tions, which seemed to announce something more considerable than a mere river voyage. A part of the continental army under General Sullivan was pushed forward to Pompton Plains, for the purpose of approaching the Highlands; but the main body was still so posted as to cover the strong camp at 'Aliddlebrook. In the letters of the American general to congress, he exhibited the dangers to which the city was exposed, and strongly recom mended the strengthening of the fmtifications on the Delaware, and the increasing of the obstruc tions that had been cast into the channel of the river.
The British army at length embarked, and as the winds Lore them from the coast, the mind of the continental commander was relieved from the burthen of at least one apprehension. The Ame rican forces were now moved towards the Dela ware, with the exception of strong detachments of disciplined troops, which marched northward as reinforcements to the army under Gates. The character of Washington was too noble and ele vated to feel any of the emotions of professional jealousy. lle knew the immense public advantage that would be derived from the defeat of Burgoyne; and he saw with the practised eye of a soldier, that the movement of Sir William Howe, by opening all the communications, had exposed his colleague to a combined attack from the concentrated forces of the union. Pressing letters were written to the various governors of New England, explaining die crisis, and the importance of immediate exertions. The marches were hastened of all the officers and troops who could be spared upon the expedition; in short, every precaution was adopted which the most zealous foresight could suggest, for the ad vancement of its own personal and immediate glory.
Time, the great unraveller of all mysteries, at length fully developed the projects of the British commander. In the last days of July 1777, the fleet appeared off the capes of Delaware, but the difficulties of the river navigation induced Sir William Howe to alter a part of his plan, and to transport his army by the more circuitous route of the Chesapeake. Unfavourable winds further delayed the voyage until the 25th of August; on that day, eighteen thousand men, in the most perfect state of military preparation and efficiency, landed at the head of Elk river, for the purpose of terminating the war by a decisive blow against the chief city of the continental Congress.
Washington, on his part, had made all the ar rangements suggested by experience and access ible to his limited means. The various divisions of the army were concentrated about Philadelphia, and marched to the Brandywine. General Small wood was ordered to assemble the Maryland mi litia at the head of the bay, and to co-operate with the Delaware troops against the British rear; the hardy militia of Pennsylvania joined the main body in considerable force, but no ing to the ex treme deficiency of the commissariat, great num bers vVel'e left, front necessity, unpi ON id ed with arms. When the whole army was collected to gether, the effectives, including irregulars, Were about eleven thousand men; and with this force Washington occupied a position behind the Red Clay creek, on the main road between the city and Sir William Howe's centre of operations.
The main body of the British army, on arriving near the American camp, made demonstrations of an immediate intention to attack; but the wary general-in-chief was soon satisfied that this move ment was a mere feint, intended to cover the real object of cutting off his communications with Phil adelphia. Ile therefore crossed the Brandywine with all his forces, and took post at Chadd's Ford, on that stream, extending his line above and below, so as to cover other fords accessible to the enemy. He had now reached the ground upon which he was determined to risk that general battle so long sought for by his adversary, and which was now required for the preservation of the city, by public opinion and the expressed wishes of Congress.
On the loth of September, Sir William Howe collected his forces at Kennett's Square, about seven miles from his adversary, and with no ob stacle between them except the little stream of the Brandywine. The next day, a strong column under General Knyphausen, advanced to Chadd's Ford, skirmished with the American parties, and assumed the appearance of a disposition to force the passage of the river. Intelligence was however sent to \Vash ington, that a detachment of five thousand men, with a number of cannons, had moved up the coun try to cross at the forks of the Brandywine; and he therefore resolved to take advantage of the tempo rary separation, by an immediate attack upon the column in front. Before this plan was carried into effect, other reports rendered extremely doubt ful both the real nature of the British movement, and the number of troops engaged in it. With a foe so much his superior in force, a bold manoeuvre, like the one contemplated, was not to be adven tured on without the most positive information; for once fully exposed on the other side of the Brandywine, there would have been no retreat left for the Americans, nor any possibility of success. The first intelligence was at length confirmed; but Lord Cornwallis had already effected his passage at the forks, and after a circuitous march of seven teen miles, was advancing in force to the attack. \Vayne's division remained at Chadd's Ford, op posed to Knyphausen; the three divisions of Sul livan, Sterling and Stephens marched tip the river to check the British detachment, while \Vash ington took post in the centre, about equidistant from the two wings.