From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 178
The consternation in Philadelphia was now appalling. Many of the citizens fled; Congress adjourned to
Lancaster; confusion and dismay turned the city into Bedlam.
Washington retreated to Germantown to prepare for another battle. He was beaten, but not dismayed.
Another instance of the providential care over Washington occurred just before the battle of Brandywine. In
disguise, accompanied by a single officer in a Hussar dress, he reconnoitered one day. Major Ferguson beheld
him at a distance, and, supposing he belonged to the enemy, he ordered three riflemen to steal near to him and
fire. But, for some unaccountable reason, he recalled the riflemen before they fired. What was his surprise on
the next day to learn that the supposed enemy, whom he would have shot, was his own general, Washington!
Howe could not ascend the Delaware to Philadelphia because it was defended by Forts Mifflin and Mercer.
He prepared to attack them.
A large force of British were at Germantown, and on the night of Oct. 2, Washington performed a march of
fifteen miles and attacked them. A quick and signal victory perched upon his banners, and the enemy fled in
confusion. The victory was turned into defeat, however, by a serious blunder. The British had been driven
three miles, leaving tents and baggage behind, and were still on the retreat when in the dense fog, several
Jersey and Maryland regiments approaching, were mistaken for British reinforcements. The cry was raised:
"We are surrounded and retreat cut off!" whereupon the Americans retreated in confusion.
General Sullivan wrote of Washington in that battle:
"I saw, with great concern, our brave commander-in-chief exposing himself to the hottest fire of the enemy, in
such a manner that regard for my country obliged me to ride to him and beg him to retire. He, to gratify me
and others, withdrew a short distance; but his anxiety for the fate of the day soon brought him up again, where
he remained till our troops had retreated."
At great sacrifice of men and money, the British removed the obstructions from the river, and took possession
of Philadelphia.
Dr. Franklin was in Paris when the news reached him, "Howe has taken Philadelphia." "No," replied Franklin,
"Philadelphia has taken Howe."
The sequel proved that Franklin had an eye upon the future.
Although the prospect was gloomy in Pennsylvania, glad tidings came to Washington from the north. The
Americans completely surrounded Burgoyne's army at Saratoga, so that farther retreat was impossible. On the
16th of October, 1777, after holding a council of war, Burgoyne surrendered to General Gates, remarking:
"The fortune of war has made me your prisoner."
"I shall always be ready to testify that it has not been through any fault of your excellency," Gates replied.
Burgoyne's army was reduced from nine thousand men, to five thousand seven hundred and fifty-two. These
prisoners were allowed a free passage to Europe, under the irrevocable condition not to serve again in the
British ranks. Seven thousand stand of arms, a large number of tents, a long train of artillery, and a great
quantity of clothing and stores fell into the hands of the victors.
The celebrated Polish patriot Kosciusko was chief engineer in Gates' command when Burgoyne was captured.
The British made Philadelphia their winter quarters, where the troops indulged themselves in almost