Continental Army Encampment Site, human settlement in Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America
The Continental Army Encampment Site is a military camp in Wilmington, Delaware, covering approximately 8 acres along the east side of Brandywine Creek, now part of Brandywine Park. Some original structures remain at the location, including a mill race that once powered grain mills in the area.
Soldiers established camp here in 1777 before the Battle of Brandywine as they prepared for combat in the Revolutionary conflict. In December of that year, approximately 1,500 troops from Delaware and Maryland returned under General William Smallwood to protect the area from British forces and defend grain mills critical to food supplies.
The site is located near Lovering Avenue and Broom Street in Wilmington and is easy to visit for those interested in American history. Today it forms part of Brandywine Park, with open ground and walking paths that allow visitors to walk through the terrain and imagine camp life from that era.
A notable feature at the site is the still-visible mill race system, which reveals both the commercial activity of the early period and explains why this strategic location was valuable for controlling supply lines during the conflict. This proximity to milling resources made the location a priority for troop concentration during the war.
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