In the summer of 1777, the British Commander in Chief in North America, Sir William Howe led an expedition out of New York to capture the American capital at Philadelphia. Howe landed at Head of Elk in Maryland and advanced toward the city. Meanwhile, Gen. George Washington assumed a defensive position along Brandywine Creek. The two sides engaged there on September 11. During the engagement, Howe sent Gen. Charles, Lord Cornwallis on a flanking maneuver around Washington's right. Fighting erupted that afternoon along Birmingham Hill as Cornwallis smashed the Continental right. Washington, however, managed to keep his army intact and withdraw from the field. Howe captured Philadelphia a little over two weeks later.