You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast. Hello and thank you for joining the American Revolution.

Today episode 163 the Battle of Germantown.

Two weeks ago, General Howe entered Philadelphia, capping a months long campaign that began in New York, then down to Maryland, then overland march to Philadelphia.

How had out-man maneuvered Washington's army and taken the city without any real last stand after defeating the continentals at Brandywine.

Now we moved away last week where we caught up with what was going on with Burgoyne's Army in New York during this same time.

So today we're going back to Philadelphia to see Washington's response to house

capture of the city.

Although the British general had reached his goal, he had left General Burgoyne

swinging in the wind without any support in upstate New York.

But that was not of primary concern to General Howe. Of primary concern

was the fact that he still had not opened up the Delaware River, meaning his invading

army could not link up with the Navy and reconnect with outside supply lines.

General Howe left the bulk of his army in Germantown.

Today Germantown is part of Philadelphia. However, in 1777, when the northern border of Philadelphia

was Vine Street in what is today center city, Germantown was still several miles north of the city.

As you might discern from the name, it was settled by immigrants from the Palatine

region in what is today southwestern Germany.

By 1777, the Germans had lived in the area for several generations, but still spoke the German

language rather than English.

Most of the German people who came to Pennsylvania were members of pacifist groups,

who had fled the nearly continual state of warfare that defined much of Europe at this time.

They had no particular affinity for the militaristic Hessions who were fighting with the British. At the same time though as pacifists most did not join the armed

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