battle bridge known battle fought september continental_army american militia primarily german soldiers serving alongside british_army american revolutionary war significant military action war soil delaware naval engagements state coast took place week major battle reportedly battle saw flying american flag landing maryland august campaign capture philadelphia seat british german forces overall command general began north advance monitored light infantry corps continental_army militia forces based bridge near newark delaware september german troops leading british advance met musket fire american light infantry woods road leading calling reinforcements americans drove bridge background having successfully captured new_york_city british military planners organized expeditions divide hoped decisively end rebellion expedition control hudson_river descent quebec targeted colonial capital philadelphia pursuit objective lieutenant general embarked army numbering plus camp followers transports late july sailed new_york_city chesapeake_bay continental_army major general george_washington remained near new_york howe objective clear howe plan south intending philadelphia washington marched army numbering philadelphia established camp wilmington delaware riding south west perform reconnaissance august washington learned british landed august howe army disembarked small town called head known located head navigation maryland miles south philadelphia relatively poor quality landing area troops moved immediately north reaching head august advance troops consisting british light infantry german went east occupied mile west near bridge miles south newark bridge named local landowner house near bridge washington normally assigned duties advance guard detached assist defense advance general unavailable organized light infantry corps consisting picked men continental_army regiments including future supreme_court chief justice fight coming battle pennsylvania delaware militia placed command brigadier general troops occupied general advocating moving entire continental_army position believing point washington declined instead ordering monitor british movements slow advance rest army fortified wilmington men road leading south bridge tavern present day glasgow delaware series small camps designed facilitate august washington atop howe observed took stock enemy position generals wrote gentlemen observed glasses carefully observed officers know washington maintained man plain coat washington september howe right wing command general left headed north hampered rain bad roads early morning howe left wing headed troops command left head expecting join division miles east reached tavern howe traveling decided press north waiting battle small company led captain headed road tavern bridge advance guard struck volley fire american ambush fell killed wounded quickly alerted rushed forward meet americans began running skirmish major described follows rebels began attack clock continued irregular fire nearly miles howe rode lines seeing crawling enemy soldiers ordered troops clear time force defending rest protecting numbering men led lieutenant colonel formed line support artillery advanced americans sent detachment left hoping flank position supported bayonet charge american center battle lasted day bridge men stand shot ammunition fight carried sword bayonet weapon militia lacked experience seven hours fighting americans forced retreat taking position far howe ordered 1st 2nd assist taking bridge 1st battalion terrain attempting ford reached right bridge taken army retreated wilmington casualty reports british range killed wounded killed wounded british reported wounded sent fleet americans claimed killed wounded washington letter congress said losses considerable british reported burying americans howe official report claimed killed wounded general criticized leadership number washington subordinates foreign officer service commented reference soldiers good good brave world officers dear colonel officers aftermath general occupied house howe forces remained days letter congress washington justified defeat saying morning enemy came considerable force pieces artillery light advanced corps pretty smart obliged retreat far inferior number cannon certain howe advance main road wilmington bid capture philadelphia washington continued city moved headquarters wilmington newport army formed defenses newport howe army remained place forces engaged small skirmishes days officer howe noted rebel patrols usually consist appear fire posts occasionally sensing attack coming washington told troops september 5th british push design philadelphia route stake contest event single battle overthrown utterly war end days later hearing british ships left washington sure howe imminent rallied troops referencing successes british north saying emulate gates army noble spirit ambition share defenders liberty peace happiness millions present future generations years maintained war struggled difficulties prospect affairs better face time fruits dangers eyes america europe turned attack came instead september howe moved force north newark pennsylvania realizing british late night washington rushed forces north find new defensive position settled delaware border river natural defense philadelphia armies clashed major september british victory battle paved way eventual entry occupation city philadelphia success offset failure expedition hudson general surrendered army october news surrender greatly changed war fought british occupied philadelphia major factor france decision enter war american ally legacy site battle preserved bridge historic district listed national_register_of_historic_places family sold state land development rights additional acres land area battlefield established million fund restore maintain property granted state right refusal purchase house remained family anniversary battle commemorated enactment event hosted members recreated 2nd
Battle of Cooch's Bridge