GERMANTOWN, BATTLE OF

(Oct. 4, 1777), in the U.S. War of Independence, abortive attack by 11,000 American troops upon 9,000 British regulars stationed at Germantown (now part of Philadelphia) under General Sir William Howe. Not discouraged by his recent defeat at Brandywine Creek, Continental general George Washington conceived a daring and imaginative plan to attack the city simultaneously from four different directions. The surprise raid at dawn failed partly because it was too complicated and partly because of a dense fog that confused the Americans into firing on one of their own columns. British losses were set at 535, American at about twice that number. Combined with the American victory at Saratoga (September-October 1777), the Germantown engagement, by impressing the French with Washington's strategic ability, was credited with influencing the French to come to America's aid in the war.