Fort+Washington

After his loss in Germantown, Washington retreated through Montgomery County to an area now known as Fort Washington and Militia Hill. Fort Washington turned out to be an excellent place for protecting the Colonial position, watching British troop movements, and preparing for the winter in Valley Forge. It was after the Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777 that the Continental Army moved toward the Whitemarsh area. By the beginning of November, Washington had setup his camp on Fort Hill. On December 6, 1777, General Howe marched his British troops out of Philadelphia to attack Washington. However, Washington's position proved too strong. Though a contingent of Redcoats made it as far as Church Hill, they were unable to overtake Washington's Fort Hill. Washington had managed to turn the British back with very little bloodshed. This American victory has become known as //The Redoubt on Fort Hill//. As the winter weather turned more severe, Washington started moving his troops to Chester County. He hoped Valley Forge would offer the army a better place to build log cabins and supply the troops.

Taken from a Philadelphia history site.

Click here for another great site on the history of the Philadelphia area during the revolution! [|Philly & the Revolution]

Answer these questions: 1. How did the "Battle of the Clouds" end? Where did it happen? 2. What happened during the Paoli Massacre? 3. The British controlled Philadelphia but the Americans controlled the forts in the Delaware River including Fort Mifflin. Why did the British need to capture these forts? 4. What was the importance of the encampment at White Marsh?