A Blue Day for the Colonists

The Battle of Germantown 1777 

A little redcoat

October 4 marked the anniversary of 

the US Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown. 

Germantown was an outlying town of Philadelphia.

The latter was the colonists' capital city and in 1777 the British were in control of it.

Today Germantown, now part of Philadelphia, is in need of serious revitalization.

It has such a rich history

but the beautiful architecture is falling into disrepair

and the area is riddled with crime.

But back in 1777 the battle was between
the independence minded American colonists and the British.  

The colonists, led by George Washington, 

made a pseudo - surprise attack on the British forces led by William Howe. 

Yeah, I was that close. My ears were ringing!

The heavy fog in the morning led to confusion, delays

and miscommunication. 

But the colonists advanced and forced the British 

to take cover in the Chew House which still stands. 

Even with Canon fire

the colonists were not able to breakthrough the barricaded house.

Both sides suffered heavy losses and

the colonists eventually retreated.

Firing on the colonists. 

It was after this battle that the French began to help the colonists

who took winter refuge in Valley Forge, PA.

 Hessian Re enactors

 The colonists were poorly outfitted and poorly trained. 

A sorry sight against the red coated British soldiers

and the gleaming Hessians. 

 With renewed fervor 

and the help of the French 

the colonists eventually won the war.

And today we are 

a Democratic Republic called 

The United States of America.