the fort on Mud Island, rendered it difficult to forage in Jersey,
Washington hoped to render his supplies on the side of Pennsylvania so
precarious as to compel him to evacuate Philadelphia.

The advantages of this situation were considerably diminished by the
capture of the Delaware frigate.

The day after Cornwallis entered Philadelphia three batteries were
commenced for the purpose of acting against any American ships which
might appear before the town. While yet incomplete they were attacked
by two frigates, assisted by several galleys and gondolas. The
Delaware, being left by the tide while engaged with the battery,
grounded and was captured, soon after which the smaller frigate and the
other vessels retired under the guns of the fort. This circumstance was
the more unfortunate as it gave the British general the command of the
ferry, and consequently free access to Jersey, and enabled him to
intercept the communication between the forts below and Trenton, from
which place the garrisons were to have drawn their military stores.

All the expected reinforcements, except the State regiment and militia
from Virginia, being arrived, and the detached parties being called in,
the effective strength of the army amounted to 8,000 Continental troops
and 3,000 militia. With this force Washington determined to approach
the enemy and seize the first favorable moment to attack him. In
pursuance of this determination the army took a position on the
Skippack road, September 30th (1777), about twenty miles from
Philadelphia and sixteen from Germantown--a village stretching on both
sides the great road leading northward from Philadelphia, which forms
one continued street nearly two miles in length. The British line of
encampment crossed this village at right angles near the center, and