During the campaign of 1777, the British General, Sir William Howe, decided to invade the vital Middle Colonies and capture Philadelphia. Philadelphia was very important as it was the newly formed capital and one of the largest cities in the colonies. The British approached Philadelphia by ship from the Chesapeake, landing at Head of Elk, Maryland (now called Elkton). After unsuccessful skirmishes around Wilmington, Delaware, Washington took up defensive positions around Chadds Ford to stop the British advance. Chadds Ford allowed safe and easy passage of the Brandywine River on the road from Baltimore to Philadelphia. Washington placed his troops along the Brandywine River to guard the main fords, or shallow places, where the river could be crossed. Washington believed that he had all of the fords along the Brandywine guarded by his troops and was confident the area was secure.
The British camped at the nearby town of Kennett Square and began to formulate a plan. A portion of the army would march towards Chadds Ford as if they intended to meet Washington and his army at the river. Meanwhile the majority of the army would march north of Wistar's Ford, cross the river at a ford unknown to Washington and march south into the flank of the American forces, attacking him from the rear. Superior tactics and better knowledge of the area allowed the British to win the biggest battle of the Revolutionary War.
