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e had fought skillfully and won an important battle。
Washington had retired in good order and was still formidable。 He now realized clearly enough that Philadelphia would fall。 Delay； however； would be nearly as good as victory。 He saw what Howe could not see； that menacing cloud in the north； much bigger than a man's hand； which； with Howe far away； should break in a final storm terrible for the British cause。 Meanwhile Washington meant to keep Howe occupied。 Rain alone prevented another battle before the British reached the Schuylkill River。 On that river Washington guarded every ford。 But； in the end； by skillful maneuvering； Howe was able to cross and on the 26th of September he occupied Philadelphia without resistance。 The people were ordered to remain quietly in their houses。 Officers were billeted on the wealthier inhabitants。 The fall resounded far of what Lord Adam Gordon called a 〃great and noble city；〃 〃the first Town in America；〃 〃one of the Wonders of the World。〃 Its luxury had been so conspicuous that the austere John Adams condemned the 〃sinful feasts〃 in which he shared。 About it were fine country seats surrounded by parklike grounds； with noble trees； clipped hedges； and beautiful gardens。 The British believed that Pennsylvania was really on their side。 Many of the people were friendly and hundreds now renewed their oath of allegiance to the King。 Washington complained that the people gave Howe information denied to him。 They certainly fed Howe's army willingly and received good British gold while Washington had only paper money with which to pay。 Over the proud capital floated once more the British flag and people who did not see very far said that； with both New York and Philadelphia taken； the rebellion had at last collapsed。
Once in possession of Philadelphia Howe made his camp at Germantown； a straggling suburban village； about seven miles northwest of the city。 Washington's army lay at the foot of some hills a dozen miles farther away。 Howe had need to be wary； for Washington was the same 〃old fox〃 who had played so cunning a game at Trenton。 The efforts of the British army were now centered on clearing the river Delaware so that supplies might be brought up rapidly by water instead of being carried fifty miles overland from Chesapeake Bay。 Howe detached some thousands of men for this work and there was sharp fighting before the troops and the fleet combined had cleared the river。 At Germantown Howe kept about nine thousand men。 Though he knew that Washington was likely to attack him he did not entrench his army as he desired the attack to be made。 It might well have succeeded。 Washington with eleven thousand men aimed at a surprise。 On the evening of the 3d of October he set out from his camp。 Four roads led into Germantown and all these the Americans used。 At sunrise on the fourth； just as the attack began； a fog arose to embarrass both sides。 Lying a little north of the village was the solid stone house of Chief Justice Chew； and it remains famous as the central point in the bitter fight of that day。 What brought final failure to the American attack was an accident of maneuvering。 Sullivan's brigade was in front attacking the British when Greene's came up for the same purpose。 His line overlapped Sullivan's and he mistook in the fog Sullivan's men for the enemy and fired on them from the rear。 A panic naturally resulted among the men who were attacked also at the same time by the British on their front。 The disorder spread。 British reinforcements arrived； and Washington drew off his army in surprising order considering the panic。 He had six hundred and seventy…three casualties and lost besides four hundred prisoners。 The British loss was five hundred and thirty…seven casualties and fourteen prisoners。 The attack had failed； but news soon came which made the reverse unimportant。 Burgoyne and his whole army had surrendered at Saratoga。
CHAPTER VI。 THE FIRST GREAT BRITISH DISASTER
John Burgoyne； in a measure a soldier of fortune； was the younger son of an impoverished baronet； but he had married the daughter of the powerful Earl of Derby and was well known in London society as a man of fashion and also as a man of letters； whose plays had a certain vogue。 His will； in which he describes himself as a humble Christian； who； in spite of many faults； had never forgotten God； shows that he was serious minded。 He sat in the House of Commons for Preston and； though he used the language of a courtier and spoke of himself as lying at the King's feet to await his commands； he was a Whig； the friend of Fox and others whom the King regarded as his enemies。 One of his plays describes the difficulties of getting the English to join the army of George III。 We have the smartly dressed recruit as a decoy to suggest an easy life in the army。 Victory and glory are so certain that a tailor stands with his feet on the neck of the King of France。 The decks of captured ships swim with punch and are clotted with gold dust； and happy soldiers play with diamonds as if they were marbles。 The senators of England； says Burgoyne； care chiefly to make sure of good game laws for their own pleasure。 The worthless son of one of them； who sets out on the long drive to his father's seat in the country； spends an hour in 〃yawning； picking his teeth and damning his journey〃 and when once on the way drives with such fury that the route is marked by 〃yelping dogs； broken…backed pigs and dismembered geese。〃
It was under this playwright and satirist； who had some skill as a soldier； that the British cause now received a blow from which it never recovered。 Burgoyne had taken part in driving the Americans from Canada in 1776 and had spent the following winter in England using his influence to secure an independent command。 To his later undoing he succeeded。 It was he； and not； as had been expected； General Carleton； who was appointed to lead the expedition of 1777 from Canada to the Hudson。 Burgoyne was given instructions so rigid as to be an insult to his intelligence。 He was to do one thing and only one thing； to press forward to the Hudson and meet Howe。 At the same time Lord George Germain； the minister responsible； failed to instruct Howe to advance up the Hudson to meet Burgoyne。 Burgoyne had a genuine belief in the wisdom of this strategy but he had no power to vary it； to meet changing circumstances； and this was one chief factor in his failure。
Behold Burgoyne then； on the 17th of June； embarking on Lake Champlain the army which； ever since his arrival in Canada on the 6th of May； he had been preparing for this advance。 He had rather more than seven thousand men； of whom nearly one…half were Germans under the competent General Riedesel。 In the force of Burgoyne we find the ominous presence of some hundreds of Indian allies。 They had been attached to one side or the other in every war fought in those regions during the previous one hundred and fifty years。 In the war which ended in 1763 Montcalm had used them and so had his opponent Amherst。 The regiments from the New England and other colonies had fought in alliance with the painted and befeathered savages and had made no protest。 Now either times had changed； or there w