Battles & Campaigns · 1777
Battle of Cooch's Bridge
Cooch's Bridge, near Newark, Delaware, USA
What happened
Howe's British army was marching toward Philadelphia. American troops fired on the advancing German soldiers from woods on both sides of the road. After a running fight that lasted most of the day, the Americans withdrew across the bridge.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the only significant land battle of the war in Delaware. It was part of Howe's campaign to capture Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress met.
What came next
The armies met again at Brandywine on 11 September 1777, and the British later took Philadelphia.
Did you know?
The coat of arms of Glasgow High School, built on part of the battlefield, shows the battle.
Timeline
- 3 September 1777Battle of Cooch's Bridge.
- 11 September 1777Battle of Brandywine.
- October 1777Burgoyne surrenders at Saratoga.