Philadelphia Was Retaken By America In June 1778

On this date in history, June 18, 1778, the British army leaves Philadelphia, and the Americans recover the city. British General William Howe took control of Philadelphia in September 1777 in an effort to put an end to the American uprising by killing off its head there. However, the Continental Congress evacuated the city and continued to lead the uprising in York, Pennsylvania. Known for his extreme prudence, General Howe chose to spend the winter in Philadelphia rather than go after Washington's army to the north of the city. For Philadelphia, the occupation was catastrophic. Residences and establishments were burned or pillaged. There was a lack of all kinds of supplies. Around the city, there were heaps of the dead. While this was going on, the senior officials resided in opulence in the confiscated mansions of eluded patriots.

On June 18, the city was eventually abandoned, and George Washington dispatched Major General Benedict Arnold, who had not yet committed his act of treason, to assume interim command of the city's forces. Congress soon made its way back. The huge Battle of Monmouth, which involved 25,000 soldiers, was the culmination of the Continental Army's pursuit of Clinton's army as it made its way back to New York. The Continental Army had emerged from Valley Forge at this point. The outcome of the battle, which was practically a draw, saw the British return to New York City and the Continental Army return to White Plains, New York, exactly where they had been two years before before the operations in New Jersey and Philadelphia.