A
The War Moves to the Middle States
The British had previously retreated from Boston in March 1776, moving the the-
ater of war to the Middle states. As part of a grand plan to stop the rebellion by
isolating New England, the British decided to seize New York City.
DEFEAT IN NEW YORK
Two brothers, General William Howe and Admiral
Richard Howe, joined forces on Staten Island and sailed into New York harbor in
the summer of 1776 with the largest British expeditionary force ever assembled—
32,000 soldiers, including thousands of German mercenaries, or soldiers who
fight solely for money. The Americans called these troops Hessians, because many
of them came from the German region of Hesse.
Washington rallied 23,000 men to New York’s defense, but he was vastly out-
numbered. Most of his troops were untrained recruits with poor equipment. The
battle for New York ended in late August with an American retreat following
heavy losses. Michael Graham, a Continental Army volunteer, described the
chaotic withdrawal on August 27, 1776.
A PERSONAL
VOICE MICHAEL GRAHAM
“ It is impossible for me to describe the confusion and horror of the scene that
ensued: the artillery flying . . . over the horses’ backs, our men running in almost
every direction, . . . [a]nd the enemy huzzahing when they took prisoners. . . . At
the time, I could not account for how it was that our troops were so completely
surrounded but have since understood there was another road across the ridge
several miles above Flatbush that was left unoccupied by our troops. Here the
British passed and got betwixt them and Brooklyn unobserved. This accounts for
the disaster of that day.
”
—quoted in The Revolution Remembered: Eyewitness Accounts of the War for Independence
By late fall, the British had pushed Washington’s army across the Delaware
River into Pennsylvania. The vast majority of Washington’s men had either
deserted or had been killed or captured. Fewer than 8,000 men remained under
Washington’s command, and the terms of their enlistment were due to end on
December 31. Washington desperately needed some kind of victory for his men
to keep them from going home.
THE BATTLE OF TRENTON
Washington resolved to risk everything on one bold
stroke set for Christmas night, 1776. In the face of a fierce storm, he led 2,400
men in small rowboats across the ice-choked Delaware River.
By 8 o’clock the next morning, the men had marched nine miles through sleet
and snow to the objective—Trenton, New Jersey, held by a garrison of Hessians.
Lulled into confidence by the storm, most of the Hessians had drunk too much
rum the night before and were still sleeping it off. In a surprise attack, the
Americans killed 30 of the enemy and took 918 captives and six Hessian cannons.
The Americans were rallied by another astonishing victory eight days later
against 1,200 British stationed at Princeton. Encouraged by these victories,
Washington marched his army into winter camp near Morristown, in northern
New Jersey.
THE FIGHT FOR PHILADELPHIA
As the muddy fields dried out in the spring of
1777, General Howe began his campaign to seize the American capital at
Philadelphia. His troops sailed from New York to the head of Chesapeake Bay, and
landed near the capital in late August. The Continental Congress fled the city
while Washington’s troops unsuccessfully tried to block the redcoats at nearby
Brandywine Creek. The British captured Philadelphia, and the pleasure-loving
General Howe settled in to enjoy the hospitality of the city’s grateful Loyalists.
114 C
HAPTER 4
MAIN IDEA
MAIN IDEA
A
Analyzing
Effects
Why were
the victories at
Trenton and
Princeton so
important to the
Continental Army?
A. Answer
These victories
restored the sol-
diers’ confi-
dence after
numerous loss-
es and motivat-
ed many men to
re-enlist and
continue fight-
ing in the war.
