Two hundred and forty years ago this month, the British fled Philadelphia. The city served as the seat of power in the fledgling United States, and its fall in September 1777 provided a symbolic victory for the British as they sought to crush the Continental Army. The decision to take Philadelphia, however, cost the British dearly, and ultimately proved to be one of the greatest blunders of the Revolutionary War.
The idea of occupying Philadelphia diverged sharply from British military strategy in early 1777. After two years of conflict, British leadership sought to divide the Continental Army and conquer New England. Two armies were key to such a feat: the forces led by Gen. John Burgoyne, based in Canada, and those led by Gen. William Howe in New York City. Instead of marching north to converge with Burgoyne, however, Howe headed south, landing 50 miles outside Philadelphia in August 1777 with 13,000 troops. He intended to take the city where the Continental Congress had declared independence from Britain the previous year.
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