George Washington to John Page describing battle of Germantown and maneuvers - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC00496.097
From Archive Folder	Documents Relating to 1777
Title	George Washington to John Page describing battle of Germantown and maneuvers
Date	11 October 1777
Author	Washington, George (1732-1799)
Recipient	Page, John
Document Type	Correspondence; Military document
Content Description	Describes the attack at Germantown and the loss of victory due to a retreat caused by fog. He closes by mentioning that the troops were in good spirits. Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, calls the "retreat" a panic caused by confusion in the fog; he concludes that Washington's plan of attack was flawed.
Subjects	Battle of Germantown Revolutionary War Military History President Battle
People	Washington, George (1732-1799) Page, John (1744-1808)
Place written	near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Theme	The American Revolution; The Presidency
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information	Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide Head Q[uarte]rs. 25 miles from Philad[elphia] Octo[be]r 11: 1777. D[ea]r Sir Your favor of the 27th I received yesterday afternoon. In respect to public matters, I wrote you on the 2[n]d Inst, and referred you to my Letter of a prior date to Gen[era]l Nelson. I have now to inform you, that on the morning of the 4th we made a general attack upon the Enemy, who lay encamped in and near German Town. The action lasted two Hours & Forty minutes, during which, we drove them several times, and every appearance promised a favourable, & a happy day. It is with pain, I am constrained to add; that after this, and at a moment when Victory was ready to decide in our favor our Troops retreated & left the Field , [sic] which they had gained by a brave & spirited conduct, without being forced to the measure by the Enemy's arms. I can only assign one reason for their retreat. Unfortunately, the day was overcast by a dark & heavy fog, which prevented our Columns from discovering each others movements, and from improving the advantages, which they had separately obtained. Had it not been for this circumstance, I am fully persuaded, the Enemy would have sustained a total defeat. Our loss, upon the occasion was pretty considerable having had several Officers & men killed & wounded, and others taken, who by means of the fog were separated from the Columns to which they belonged. Gen[era]l Nash of North Carolina was among the wounded, and died since. I cannot ascertain the Enemy's loss - but the concurring Accouts of persons, who have left Philadelphia [inserted: in the Action] since and those of Deserters make it very great - from Fifteen to Two Thousand five Hundred. From every information Gen[era]l Agnew was slain & it is the common repost, that two other Gen[era]l Officers were wounded - and mortally. Our Troops are in good spirits, and I hope on a future occasion we shall be more fortunate. Cap[tai]n Rowland is now home. He is to make some Experiments today on the subject you mention, and I shall be ready to pay him every attention his ingenuity may merit. I am Dear Sir With great esteem & respect Y[ou]r Most Obed[ient] Serv[an]t Go: Washington (On Public Service.) The Hon[ora]ble John Page, Esqr. [?] Go: Washington

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