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George Washington and Delaware! He thought they would sail up the Delaware River. But on August 22, 1777, General George Washington learned that British ships sailed into the Chesapeake Bay and landed near Elkton, Maryland. Their objective: capture the new capital of Philadelphia and end the Rebellion. To counter this threat, Washington marched his troops to Newport, Delaware, and dispatched a troop of soldiers to harass the English, at what would later be called the "Battle of Cooch's Bridge." British Commander Lord Howe continued to surprise Washington. British troops did not march toward Wilmington, but toward Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Washington scrambled and finally the two armies met on September 11, 1777 for the Battle of the Brandywine. During this period, Washington made his headquarters in Wilmington, from where he wrote a letter on August 31, 1777 that detailed his strategy for monitoring and harassing the British army. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Delaware Historical Society acquired this 221-year old letter at a recent auction of letters and memorabilia in New Hampshire, along with two others written by Delaware patriots Caesar Rodney and Jacob Broom. The Society is proud not only to preserve these documents for future generations, but to incorporate their interpretation into exhibitions, publications, educational programs and research projects. Read George Washington's Letter to Caesar Rodney © 1998; updated 2010 Delaware Historical Society |