“Today the English staff officers held an entertainment for the general-in-chief, Sir William Howe. The entire retinue came together at Redoubt Number One at three o’clock in the afternoon. They embarked in flatboats and passed down the Delaware River with musical accompaniment….” — Sgt. Maj. Johann Ernst Prechtel, Bayreuth Reg’t., May 18, 1778.

…  When the retinue passed the fleet of warships and transports lying at anchor in the harbor, all of which had flags flying, a strong salute was fired from all the cannons.  In a garden outside Philadelphia a banquet and ball was held, and at night a magnificent fireworks display was presented.  

(Translated by Bruce Burgoyne)

“The Delaware grounded, at the falling of the tide, near the present Upper Ferry to Camden from Kensington, and, before she could be got off, the guns of the British batteries compelled her colors to be struck.” — Sept. 27, 1777

“As soon as the British had taken possession of Philadelphia, they erected three batteries near the river, to protect the city against the American shipping. Before the batteries were finished, Commodore Hazlewood ordered the Delaware and Montgomery frigates, each of twenty-four guns, and the sloop Fly, some galleys and gondolas, to move near and attack them. On the morning of the 27th of September, they opened a cannonade upon the works. The Delaware grounded, at the falling of the tide, near the present Upper Ferry to Camden from Kensington, and, before she could be got off, the guns of the British batteries compelled her colors to be struck. A schooner was driven ashore, and the remainder of the vessels escaped down the river. The affair was badly managed, and disaster followed.”

Benson J. Lossing, The Pictorial Field-book of the Revolution;… (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1860), p. 104

“Genl. Howe has withdrawn himself close within his lines, which extend from the upper Ferry upon Schuylkill to Kensington upon Delaware. They consist of a Chain of strong Redoubts, connected by Abattis. We have reconnoitered them well, but find it impossible to attack them while defended by a force fully equal to our own in Continental Troops.” — General Washington to Horatio Gates, Dec. 2, 1777

The Redoubt (fort) at “Kensington upon Delaware” stood on the Sugar House site.

“The nearer you approach to Philadelphia, the more you discover the traces of the war. The ruins of houses destroyed, or burned, are the monuments the English have left behind them, but these ruins present only a picture of temporary misfortune, and not that of long adversity… (Marquis de Chastellux, 1780)

… By the side of these ruined edifices, those still standing indicate prosperity and plenty. You imagine you are in the country after a storm: some trees have been blown down, but the others are still clothed with flowers and verdure. Before entering Philadelphia, you cross the lines thrown up by the English in the winter of 1777-78; they are still discernible in many places. The part of the lines I now saw was that of the right, the flank of which is supported by a large redoubt, or square battery, which also com mands the river. Some parts of the parapet were constructed with much refinement, which however increases labor more than it strengthens fortifications: these works are in the form of a saw, that is to say, composed of a series of small redans, or teeth, each of which is capable of containing only three men. As soon as I had crossed these lines my eye was struck by several large buildings, the two principal ones were a range of barracks constructed by the English, and a large hospital previously built at the expense of the Quakers.  Imperceptibly I found myself in the town, and after following three or four very wide and perfectly straight streets, I arrived at the door of M. le Chevalier de La Luzerne.

— Travels in North America in the years 1780, 1781 and 1782 by the Marquis de Chastellux, a revised translation with introduction and notes by Howard C. Rice, Jr. Published for the Institute of Early American History and Culture (University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill), p 130.

“The road bears right a bit but nevertheless comes closer to the (Delaware) river. On either side of the road you find woods, country houses, and ruins that are monuments to the wrath of the English. Half a mile from the city you see remains of General Howe’s lines. Soon you cross one of the works that the English had built for the defense of the town.” — General Charles Béville, Rochambeau’s quartermaster (Sept. 1781)

From The American Campaigns of Rochambeau’s Army 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783, translated and edited by Howard C. Rice, Jr., and Anne S. K. Brown, (Princeton University Press, 1972), Vol. 2, p. 75.

See also, Vol. 2 Itineraries and Maps and Views:

Map 57, March from Red-Lion Tavern to Philadelphia, Sept. 3-4, 1781

… The “ancienne ligne Angloise,” shown on the map beyond Kensington…

Map 137, Twenty-Seventh Camp at Philadelphia, 1782

… The camp ground was along the eatern side of the “Chemin de German Town,” indicated on the map as a continuation of Second Street. It was on high ground north of Cohocksink Creek, the larger of the two streams shown, with a dike (“Digue”) across its mouth… The French camp was thus in the general vicinity of present North Second Street and Germantown Avenue.