East Germantown in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Battle of Germantown

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 30, 2009

1. Battle of Germantown Marker

Inscription. The Battle of Germantown occurred at Cliveden, the country home of Pa. Chief Justice Benjamin Chew, on Oct. 4, 1777. A British regiment occupied Cliveden and defended it from full assault by the colonials. Over 70 soldiers died on these grounds. Although it was an American defeat, Washington’s bold strategy helped to win French aid for the cause of independence.

Erected 1996 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1777.

Location. 40° 2.795′ N, 75° 10.945′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in East Germantown. It is on Germantown Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in front of Cliveden, the Chew House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6401 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19144, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania.

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It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lafayette's Tour (a few steps from this marker); The American Side of the Street (within shouting distance of this marker); The Delaware Regiment (within shouting distance of this marker); Upsala (within shouting distance of this marker); Georgian Architecture (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cliveden Construction Chronology (about 400 feet away); Revolutionary War Witness Tree (about 500 feet away); Work at Cliveden (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . .
1. The Battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777 at Germantown, Pennsylvania. The American Revolutionary War website. (Submitted on October 11, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. History of Cliveden.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 11, 2008

2. Battle of Germantown Marker

Cliveden of the National Trust. A historic Site in Philadelphia. (Submitted on October 11, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

3. Battle of Germantown - Behind the Marker. ExplorePAHistory.com (Submitted on July 21, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

4. The Battle of Germantown 1777. Account of the battle from a British perspective from BritishBattles.com. (Submitted on October 5, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 25, 2025

3. Battle of Germantown Marker

Marker on Germantown Avenue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 11, 2008

4. Marker on Germantown Avenue

The marker is located on Germantown Avenue, in front of the historic Chew House. The photo was taken before the adjacent marker was erected.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 11, 2008

5. Cliveden

British troops posted in this house held off Washington's attacking army for several hours on October 4, 1777. The Americans were forced to retreat after the arrival of British reinforcements from Philadelphia.

Battle Damage on Chew House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 11, 2008

6. Battle Damage on Chew House

The northwest corner of the Chew House still bears the damage done by American musket and cannon fire, as can be seen in the photo.

Battle of Germantown, 1777 image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

7. Battle of Germantown, 1777

Chew's House can be seen near the center of this map.
From Harper's Encyclopædia of United States History, from 458 A.D. to 1905 by Benson John Lossing and Woodrow Wilson, Volume 4, Page 65.

Marker in Cliveden Visitor Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 11, 2008

8. Marker in Cliveden Visitor Center

Chew House “Cliveden”
has been designated a
Registered National
Historic Landmark
Under the provisions of the
Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935
this site possesses exceptional value
in commemorating and illustrating
the history of the United States

U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1962

Battle of Germantown image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 5, 2013

9. Battle of Germantown

British and American troops clash at Cliveden during the Battle of Germantown reenactment.

<i>Chew Mansion, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa.</i> image. Click for full size.

circa 1930

10. Chew Mansion, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 3,111 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 2, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on October 11, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3. submitted on January 26, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 11, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 7. submitted on January 17, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 8. submitted on October 11, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 9. submitted on October 5, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 10. submitted on October 4, 2015.