Battle of White Marsh

Battle of White Marsh
Part of the American Revolutionary War

View from the British positions at the Battle of White Marsh.
Ink on paper, by cartographer Johann Martin Will
DateDecember 5–8, 1777
Location40°07′N 75°14′W / 40.12°N 75.23°W / 40.12; -75.23
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
 United States

 Great Britain

Commanders and leaders
United States George Washington Kingdom of Great Britain Sir William Howe
Kingdom of Great Britain Lord Cornwallis
Hesse Wilhelm Knyphausen
Strength
9,500[1] 10,000[2]
Casualties and losses
150 killed and wounded
54 captured[3]
19 killed
60 wounded
33 missing
238 deserted[4][5]

The Battle of White Marsh or Battle of Edge Hill was a battle of the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought December 5–8, 1777, in the area surrounding Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania. The battle, which took the form of a series of skirmish actions, was the last major engagement of 1777 between British and American forces.

George Washington, commander-in-chief of the American revolutionary forces, spent the weeks after his defeat at the Battle of Germantown encamped with the Continental Army in various locations throughout upper Philadelphia County (now Montgomery County), just north of the British-occupied city. In early November, the Americans established an entrenched position approximately 16 miles (26 km) north of Philadelphia along the Wissahickon Creek and Sandy Run, primarily situated on several hills between Old York Road and Bethlehem Pike. From here, Washington monitored British troop movements in Philadelphia and evaluated his options.

On December 4, Gen. Sir William Howe, the commander-in-chief of British forces in North America, led a sizable contingent of troops out of Philadelphia in one last attempt to destroy Washington and the Continental Army before the onset of winter. After a series of skirmishes, Howe called off the attack and returned to Philadelphia without engaging Washington in a decisive conflict.

With the British back in Philadelphia, Washington was able to march his troops to winter quarters at Valley Forge.

  1. ^ Philadelphia 1777: Taking the Capital, Clement pg.26
  2. ^ McGuire, p. 239. This figure comes from the diary of Lord Cantelupe.
  3. ^ December 5: Martin, p. 161, (40 casualties). McGuire, p. 242, (24 captured). December 6: Peckham, p. 45, (139 killed, 40 wounded and 15 captured). McGuire, p. 246, (15 captured). December 7: McGuire, p. 253, (44 killed or wounded). December 8: Martin, p. 163, (20 killed or wounded and 15 captured)
  4. ^ Jackson, pp. 115 and 308
  5. ^ Martin p.164