Slight skirmish near the White Horse, and retreat to French Creek....

General Wayne surprised....
General Howe takes possession of Philadelphia....

Removal of Congress to Lancaster.
{1777} {July.} [Sidenote: General Washington commences his march to the Delaware.] On receiving intelligence that the British fleet had sailed from New York, the American army commenced its march to the Delaware.

About the time of its departure, a letter from Sir William Howe, directed to General Burgoyne at Quebec, was delivered to General Putnam by the person who had received it, as was said, for the purpose of carrying it to Quebec, and was transmitted by Putnam to the Commander-in-chief.
In this letter, General Howe said that "he was exhibiting the appearance of moving to the southward, while his real intent was against Boston, from whence he would co-operate with the army of Canada." This stratagem entirely failed.

General Washington, at once, perceived that the letter was written with a design that it should fall into his hands, and mislead him with respect to the views of the writer.
[Sidenote: He takes measures for checking Burgoyne.] While the utmost vigilance and judgment were required to conduct the operations of the army under the immediate command of General Washington, the transactions in the north were too vitally interesting not to engage a large share of his attention.