Thomas Paine from “The Crisis”

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
– Philadelphia’s 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

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

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

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
King’s Bridge
– Leaves Putnam behind with 4,000 troops to cover retreat
– Putnam’s troops are able to muster a victory at
Harlem Heights, but retreat shortly after
Howe’s 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 doesn’t necessarily have to beat the British on the battlefield, he just can’t surrender
– As long as he lives to fight another day, the
Revolution survives
Britain would lose men, supplies, $ and eventually tire of fighting

Fort Washington would complete Howe’s 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

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

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 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 Washington’s 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 ½ of his troops would rejoin
Washington in Pennsylvania

Thomas Paine Statue in
Bordentown, NJ
On December 13 th , 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”
– 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

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

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 McCullough’s 1776

HUGE morale boost for Americans
– Newspapers around the colonies would boast of the brilliant victory
– Washington would convince over ½ 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)

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 Washington’s forces
Washington and 5,500 men snuck away in the night and swept around to attack rear guard in 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

– Return to NY

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