<P> For reasons that are not entirely clear, General Howe moved a sizable army to Somerset Court House, south of New Brunswick . If he performed this move as a feint to draw Washington out from his strong position, it failed, as Washington refused to move his army out in force . Washington had intelligence that Howe had not brought the necessary equipment for either bringing or constructing watercraft, so this move seemed unlikely to him to be a move toward the Delaware River . When Howe eventually withdrew his army back toward Perth Amboy, Washington did follow . Launching a lightning strike, Howe sent forces under Cornwallis in an attempt to cut Washington off from the high ground; this attempt was foiled in the Battle of Short Hills . Howe then withdrew his troops to Perth Amboy, embarked them on transports, and sailed out of New York harbor, destined for Philadelphia . </P> <P> Washington did not know where Howe was going . Considering the possibility that Howe was again feinting, and would actually sail his army up the Hudson to join with Burgoyne, he remained near New York . Only when he received word that Howe's fleet had reached the mouth of the Delaware, did he need to consider the defense of Philadelphia . However, the fleet did not enter the Delaware, instead continuing south . Uncertain of Howe's goal, which could be Charleston, South Carolina, he considered moving north to assist in the defense of the Hudson, when he learned that the fleet had entered Chesapeake Bay . In August, he began moving his troops south to prepare the city's defenses . General John Sullivan, who commanded the Continental Army's troops facing Staten Island, had, in order to capitalize on perceived weaknesses of the British position there following Howe's departure, attempted a raid on August 22, that failed with the Battle of Staten Island . </P> <P> General Howe landed 15,000 troops in late August at the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, about 55 miles (90 km) southwest of Philadelphia . General Washington positioned 11,000 men between Howe and Philadelphia but was outflanked and driven back at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777 and suffered over 1,000 casualties, while the British lost about half that number . </P> <P> The Continental Congress once again abandoned the city, relocating first to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and later York, Pennsylvania . British and Revolutionary forces maneuvered around each other west of Philadelphia for the next several days, clashing in minor encounters such as the abortive Battle of the Clouds and the so - called "Paoli Massacre ." On September 26, Howe finally outmaneuvered Washington and marched into Philadelphia unopposed . Capture of the rebel capital did not bring the end to the rebellion as the British thought it would . In 18th Century warfare, it was normal that the side who captured the opposing force's capital city won the war . But the war was to continue for six more years (until 1783), given the unconventional warfare tactics of the rebels at the time . </P>

Where did the armies meet for the first battle of the philadelphia campaign