1776 New York

These are the times that try

mens souls
- Thomas Paine from The Crisis

British Land in New York

British evacuate Boston in March

1776
General William Howe landed on
Staten Island July 3, 1776

Began amassing troops for attack

32,000 troops

9,000 Hessian (German

Mercenaries)
Largest expeditionary force
ever sent by any nation
Philadelphias pop was 30,000
(largest US city)

400 ships

Why New York?

Centrally Located
Could cut off New England from
the South

Better port system

British could utilize their superior
naval power

Access to Hudson River and

Canada
More Tories than in Boston

Washingtons Dilemma
Washington was
unsure where the
British would strike
Long Island or New
York City
Would divide his
troops between Long
and Manhattan Island
Breaking a cardinal rule
of war

Battle of Brooklyn
(Battle of Long Island)
August 27, 1776

First major battle after the Declaration of Independence

Washington and his 9,000 troops under Israel Putnam dug in on

Brooklyn Heights
Howe would invade Long Island with 20,000
Largest battle of war

Howe would outflank the Americans by sneaking through Brooklyn

Heights using Jamaica Pass
British get behind Americans and drive them West
Other British and Hessian forces push Washington up against bank
of East River
Howe decides not to immediately finish the job, gives his troops a
rest, and plans to capture Washington later
leaving Washington the option of retreat

Casualties: 1719 American, 377 British

Map of Long Island, Battle of Brooklyn

Washingtons Retreat Across the

East River
Washington is fearful of
British advancing up the
East river and trapping
his army on Long Island
Designs a midnight
retreat across the East
river to Manhattan Island

Under cover of night

Complete silence
Approx. 10 hours
Transported cannon,
horses, 9,000 men, etc.

A morning fog settled

concealing the last troops
across the river

Washingtons Retreat
Washington was again unsure of where Howe
would land on Manhattan Island
Fearful of getting trapped on the Island,
Washington takes most of his troops over the
Kings Bridge
Leaves Putnam behind with 4,000 troops to cover
retreat
Putnams troops are able to muster a victory at
Harlem Heights, but retreat shortly after

Howes forces dominate New York

Victories at White Plains, Fort Washington
Fort Washington was the last American stronghold in
New York
Lost guns, cannon, ammo

Washington knows that he doesnt necessarily

have to beat the British on the battlefield, he just
cant surrender
As long as he lives to fight another day, the
Revolution survives
Britain would lose men, supplies, $ and eventually tire
of fighting

Aftermath
Fort Washington would complete Howes
conquest of New York
Americans would loose valuable cannon,
powder, soldiers, etc. with loss of forts
Sunk morale
Enlistments soon to expire
Washington would retreat
into New Jersey

Nathan Hale
Captain in CT militia
Would volunteer to go into
New York City to gather info
on British movements in New
York (Sept. 1776)
Dressed as Dutch school
teacher
Discovered by a British agent
pretending to be Patriot
Would be hanged
Famous Quote
I only regret, that I have but
one life to lose for my country.

Nathan Hale statue outside the

Chicago Tribune Tower

New Jersey
Things would go from
bad to worse
2000 soldiers left
when enlistments
expired on 12/1/76
Hundreds of deserters
Washington retreated
past Princeton,
Trenton and crossed
Delaware River into
Pennsylvania on 12/7
Congress evacuated
Philadelphia - to
Baltimore

Colonial Karma
Colonial army retreated from New
Jersey in two sections to meet up in
Pennsylvania
Colonial General Charles Lee would tarry
with his 7,000 men in retreat
In light of Washingtons latest defeats, Lee felt
that he should lead the army
Lee had the most impressive credentials in the
Continental Army
Began a letter writing campaign to congress to
try and gain support

Lee had left his men at camp to sleep in hotel

captured on 12/13 at his hotel in his bathrobe
Less than of his troops would rejoin
Washington in Pennsylvania

A Stroke of Luck
On December 13th, Howe called for an
end of the campaign for the season
Howe set up outposts along NY & NJ to hold
territory won in the campaign

The rest of the American army would

make their way to Pennsylvania to rejoin
Washington (now 7,500 total)
Thomas Paine writes The Crisis

Thomas Paine Statue in

Bordentown, NJ

Author of Common Sense, Paine had joined

the Army
50 page pamphlet inspires Americans in their
darkest hour
Justifies the American cause and calls for
American heroism
Washington has it read to his troops

Victory or Death The Christmas

Campaign
Washington would learn that approx. 1,200
Hessians were holding Trenton, NJ and decided to
strike
On Christmas night, in a severe snowstorm,
Washington ferried his men across the icy
Delaware just north of town
By 3am all (2,400) were wet, cold, tired, and
across
2 soldiers froze to death - only American
deaths

Washingtons Crossing of the

Delaware

Battle of Trenton
Attack would begin around 9am
Hessians caught by surprise
The Americans surrounded town and would take
it in 45 min
21 Hessians killed, 90 wounded, 900 prisoner
7 American casualties

A complete victory
Returned to the PA camp

Capture of the Hessians at Trenton by John Trumbull, as

featured on the cover of David McCulloughs 1776

Reaction
HUGE morale boost for Americans
Newspapers around the colonies would boast of the
brilliant victory
Washington would convince over of men to stay
after their enlistment expired

Howe sends General Cornwallis with 8,000 men

to retake Trenton
Would leave 2,500 in Princeton and take the rest to
Trenton (5,500)

British come to retake Trenton

Washington positioned his forces on the outside
of Trenton across a small creek
Cornwallis and his men arrived on Jan. 2, 1777
and easily retook lightly defended Trenton
Decided to wait until morning to cross the creek
and attack Washingtons forces
Washington and 5,500 men snuck away in
the night and swept around to attack rear
guard in Princeton

Princeton

On the morning of Jan 3,

American Forces would meet
the rear guard of the British in
an orchard outside of Princeton
Took British completely by
surprise
Thought Americans were still
in Trenton
Fierce fighting ensued and
Americans were driven back
until Washington and Nathaniel
Greene rode up to rally the
troops
Drove Redcoats out of town
& back towards Trenton
British: 278 casualties
American: 98

Washington Rallying the Americans at the Battle of Princeton

By William Ranney

Aftermath
After defeat in
Princeton, Howe
decides to
evacuate most of
NJ
Return to NY

Armies would
retire for winter

Importance
Victories in NJ gave Americans new hope
in their darkest hour
Could defeat the feared Hessians
Renewed faith in Washington as leader
8,000 new enlistments

Americans treated with greater respect by

British

Perseverance and spirit

have done wonders in all
ages.
- General George Washington

George Washington at the

Battle of Princeton by
Charles Wilson Peale