Brandywine Battlefield -
Historic Site
Site of the largest land battle of the American Revolution, the Battle of Brandywine spans several miles of beautiful countryside in Chadds Ford, PA. The Battle was fought on September 11, 1777 between General George Washington and British General Howe. Combined, the armies totaled between 25,000 and 30,000 men. Due to poor scouting information, General Washington was outflanked by the British and lost the battle - forced to retreat to Valley Forge. This opened the door for the British occupation of Philadelphia, then the capital of the colonies.
The Brandywine Battlefield Park covers 52 acres and contains two important buildings from the revolutionary era - the Ring house where Washington set up his headquarters before the battle and the Gilpin house, where Lafayette is said to have stayed. There is also an amazing giant Sycamore tree from the revolutionary era still growing by the Gilpin house. The visitor center has an excellent museum shop and offers driving tour maps of the battle including existing battle sites such as the Birmingham Meeting House. More about the Brandywine Battlefield...
