NPS Museum Collections 'American Revolutionary War: Independence National Historic Park'

map graphic showing states in the Middle theater of battle-click to go to full map

Click an image to go to that portrait

John Armstrong (1758-1843)
By Rembrandt Peale
INDE 14025

Duportail (1743-1802)
By Charles Willson Peale
INDE 14046

n 1776, the British moved against New York and nearly succeeded in capturing Washington's Army. American defeats at Long Island and along the Hudson were disastrous. Washington retreated across New Jersey into Pennsylvania. In late December, Washington surprised and captured the Hessians at Trenton and the British supplies at Princeton before wintering at Morristown. The following year British General William Howe moved against the American capital, Philadelphia. He captured that city following the American defeat at Brandywine. An American counter-attack against Germantown failed. Washington moved his army to winter quarters at Valley Forge. Here, rigorous training in military drill and tactics transformed the troops into an efficient fighting force. The disciplined Continental Army's new skills were demonstrated at Monmouth.