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September 11, 1777: Washington's Defeat at Brandywine Dooms Philadelphia

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Bruce Mowday might well ought to be listed as editor of this book rather than its author because much of the time all one finds here is one long quoted passage after another. Worse yet the passages are often repetitive and sometimes drag on for more than a page of text. On several occasions, one long passage ends just in time for a one-sentence introduction to the next long quoted passage. Many of the passages the author quotes are from official military reports, which have all of the flair, and literary style of a dead fish and the book often drags along accordingly.

Mowday not only includes repetitive quotes but also often repeats himself. As an example, every time Captain John Marshall is mentioned, Mowday reminds the reader that Marshall would some day sit on the Supreme Court. An important point but the author's first notation of this point was sufficient. Between his own repetitions and the extremely long quoted passages, one gets the idea the author is simply trying to make the book long enough to be worth printing.

The sad thing is that when Mowday actually takes the time to write for himself the text is fairly smooth and enjoyable. Just as one is beginning to enjoy the book however, along comes another long quoted passage. Quite frankly, the author is correct in saying this battle does not get the attention it deserves but unfortunately he does the subject no justice. The troop movements, which are the key to understanding the battle, are hard to follow and what maps there are leave much to be desired. It is just simply hard to figure out what is going on. Add to these problems a severe lack of depth as the author never more than scratches the surface. For example, General Howe's decision to abandon Johnny Burgoyne and head for Philadelphia is barely covered. Probably the most important aspect of the Philadelphia campaign is that Burgoyne, left on his own, was forced to surrender his army which probably helped bring France into the war. Mowday never mentions Howe's intense dislike for Burgoyne and his probable desire to see Gentleman Johnny fail. Howe would have had to completely destroy Washington at Brandywine to make up for what happened to Burgoyne, but Mowday never mentions this scenario.

Mowday obviously knows his subject and has done a considerable amount of research. His writing is excellent when he actually writes something and I kept thinking the book would get better. Unfortunately it didn't. I realize that for the author, this was a labor of love and I would really like to recommend this book, but I can't.

September 11 is just not a good day for the United States, but it was somehow comforting to read Mowday's book and realize that bad as things can get, they get better. Americans on September 12, 1777, with Washington defeated and Phildelphia our capitol about to fall to the British, must have felt as alarmed as we did on a later September 12th.

This is a good book to read if you are local or you want to follow the course of the battle. It walks you through Howe's end run around Washington, exactly the same trick he used in the Battle of Long Island.

This book is frustrating in that it could have been a lot better with some editing, too often information or even whole sections get repeated, sometimes right after one another.

Also the book sort of comes to an end leaving us wondering what went wrong with Washington? Howe had used the same trick at Long Island, yet Washington neglected to survey the battle field before hand and failed to have adequate scouts out to prevent it. The genius of the First and Second Battles of Trenton aand the evacuation of Long Island sleptwalked his way through the battle of Brandywine.

Fortunately his troops didn't, for despite their defeat, the author suggests that it was at Brandywine that Americans learned "they could hold their own with the British".

This is a wonderful book and an important resource for anyone interested in the Revolutionary War. Until now there has been little information available about this critical phase of the war. Mr. Mowday has done us all a service by researching the details of the Battle of Brandywine and then writing about it in such an entertaining manner.

"For more than two centuries the Battle of Brnadywine has not received the recgonigtion it deserves," writes Bruce Mowday in the beginning pages of September 11, 1777: Washington's Defeat at Brandywine Dooms Philadelphia. Unfortunately, Mowday's book is far short of the recognition the Battle of Brandywine deserves. Mowday, a journalist who owns his own media company, has written an account of the Battle of Brandywine based on both primary and secondary sources. However, the text is seriously flawed with historical mistakes. For example, inaccurate regimental numbers, troops strengths, dates, and misspellings are consistent throughout the book. Lacking an order of battle, the author has British regiments fighting at Brandywine that were not even in America at the time. In addition, the text is inundated with long passages that distract the reader. This book must be read with caution, and a reliable source. While Mowday's book may indeed open the door to further research on the Battle of Brandywine, it falls far short of becoming a classic on that pivotal battle.

The first three chapters of this book are unredeemable. They jump all over the place and completely clutter the narrative; almost as if they are unstuck in time like Billy Pilgrim; or the author couldn't figure out how to index background information and tried to tell you everything about a person in a single paragraph. It gets better later when the author seems to calm down and hit his stride. Oddly I found reading it from the back a better approach. There are some real gems in here, like the letter from the Viginia cavalryman which I hadn't encountered before, but its placement belongs in an index; bits of it should have been used more appropriately in the text. Unfortunately, in order to understand "September 11, 1777," you already have to have considerable knowledge about the battle in order to sort what you are reading. For a reader with casual interest, or tourist, this one will be confusing. A reenactor may find it of value.

This book reads like one very long newpaper article. There are not any documents recently discovered here. Not enough of the book is dedicated to the actual battle. I felt there were some lulls in the text, and was left thinking,'there is no new information here.' What is in the book was certainly researched, perhaps rushed into writing. And there is very little commentary, if any, on the non-combatants. I also was left thinking is this a history of the Philadelphia campaign or the Battle of Brandywine? Although not much has been written on this battle this book adds little, if any, new discoveries. I was somewhat disappointed, but I recommend this book to anybody that has some background info. on the Revolutionary War, but little knowledge of the forgotten Battle of Brandywine. The book deserves credit for having much information (and sources already known), however, in a limited amount of pages related to both the battle and campaign.

Mr. Mowday has done a commendable job of bringing a long ignored battle to life. He accurately depicts a pivotal battle in a reader friendly manner. Every reader will not only walk away with an increased knowledge of the specifics of the conflict, they will also be entertained in the process. I highly recommend this book to any history buff.

Review in the Oxford Tribune for week of August 25, 2003 by University History Professor Ken Woodward of "September 11, 1777: Washington's Defeat at Brandywine Dooms Philadelphia."
Local writer, Bruce Mowday, was doing some research on the Battle of Brandywine and came to find out that there had not been a definite text written on the most important land battle fought in the Revolutionary War. This discovery became the inspiration for his writing the extremely interesting and thrilling account, September 11, 1777, about one of the most significant battles in our country's fight for freedom.
This book is a must read for local history buffs and students of all ages since Mowday does a wonderful job in telling the story that occurred literally in our own backyards. Mowday describes the troop movements, gives details of errors made by the generals (Washington included) and presents ample reasons for the military significance of the Battle of the Brandywine. All this is done in a book that reads like a novel, the reading goes that easily.
September 11, 1777 is the perfect book to interest any one in local history, the Revolutionary War and one will never read a history book that tells you so much in such a short amount of time. Mowday keeps the reader's interest thoughout; his writing style just flows from one event to another and never gets bogged down in trivia or useless details. Clearly, this is a reader-friendly text.
Although Philadelphia fell to the British right after the Battle of Brandywine and Washington ended up at Valley Forge for the following winter, the defeat, as we now know, was not fatal to the patriots' cause. The significance and importance of all that went on during this confrontation can be highlighted by all the major names involved here at the Brandywine Creek; famous Revolutionary War figures, such as Washington, Howe, Lafayette and Cornwallis all saw action here.
After I read September 11, 1777, I revisited Birmingham Meeting House, the Brandywine Battlefield Park and, when passing the Quaker Meeting on Route 1 outside of Kennett Square, I imagined the British troops gathering there behind the stone wall that is still there, preparing to march on the colonials who were waiting just a short way down the road at what we now know as Chadd's Ford. Many times people who live in an area steeped in history never pay enough attention to it. I would suggest that after (or while) reading September 11, 1777, you expand upon that learning experience, get in your car and go on a local history tour. Bruce Mowday has provided ample maps in his book to help in this venture and reading about and touring the area involved in the Battle of Brandywine will help the reader truly appreciate the unique place the Brandywine Valley has in American History.
Editor's note: Ken Woodward is a former high school principal and currently teaches in the Education Department at West Chester University.

Mr. Mowday has done a commendable job of bringing a long ignored battle to life. He accurately depicts a pivitol battle in a reader friendly manner. Every reader will not only walk away with an increased knowledge of the specifics of the conflict, they will also be entertained in the process. I highly recommend this book to any history buff.

This book attempts to be a detailed history of a neglected Revolutionary War battle. Unfortunately it lacks an order of battle and is woefully short on maps which makes a complex battle even tougher to follow. There are a number of minor errors with regards to numbers of troops, dates and unit designations as well. Some editing would have helped in this regard.
On the favorable side, it maintains a good pace and paints a good overall picture of the flow of the battle. The Continental Army was outgenraled and outfought but managed to hang on and escape with good morale. This is a central theme the author sticks to without making too many apologies for one of George Washington's worse days as a general.
Until a more detailed study of the battle is written, this book does an OK job as an overview of a long neglected battle.