In the fall of 1777, Alexander Hamilton was still new to the game of being one of George Washington’s aides-de-camp, also known as a member of his “family.”

It had been a vexing summer, with the large enemy fleet of British commander Lord Howe playing now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t off the waters of the mid-Atlantic colonies.

Now, though, the Redcoats had landed—and it was clear they were going to make a play to capture Philadelphia.

Washington could probably neither defeat the British on the battlefield, nor keep his reputation intact should his side’s capital city fall. He had no choice but to try his still largely greenhorn troops in a bid to do the impossible.

Hamilton was on duty in his mentor’s current headquarters, the Benjamin Ring house at Chadd’s Ford, Pennsylvania, (pictured), which lies upon the main road connecting Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Suddenly, a dark-complected stranger burst in with warnings that Washington was about to be outmaneuvered. The enemy, came the report, would be attacking from an unanticipated direction.

The stranger was correct.

Hamilton accompanied Washington to the front lines of fierce combat. Washington himself took to the field in an attempt to rally his under-pressure troops and turn the fortunes of the day around. Hamilton’s new friend, gallant French soldier the Marquis de Lafayette was wounded and had to be carried away from the action by his lieutenant.

The Americans suffered 1,300 casualties to the British-Hessian forces’ 587, and had to retreat from the field.