Both sides suffered in the woodland fighting but that night the British army encamped in Washington's position at Chadd's Ford, and Howe had fought skillfully and won an important battle.
Washington had retired in good order and was still formidable.

He now realized clearly enough that Philadelphia would fall.

Delay, however, would be nearly as good as victory.

He saw what Howe could not see, that menacing cloud in the north, much bigger than a man's hand, which, with Howe far away, should break in a final storm terrible for the British cause.

Meanwhile Washington meant to keep Howe occupied.