The
New York and New Jersey campaign was a series of battles in the
American Revolutionary War between
British forces under
General Sir William Howe and an American army under General
George Washington. Beginning with the landing on
Staten Island on July 3, 1776, British forces gained control of New York City and drove the Americans across
New Jersey and into
Pennsylvania. Late in 1776, Washington launched a
surprise counterstrike, an important morale boost for the Americans after an otherwise disastrous campaigning season.
Capture of New York City
Having withdrawn from
Boston after an
unsuccessful campaign, the British now focused on capturing New York City. General Sir William Howe, with the services of his brother, Admiral
Lord Howe, began amassing troops on
Staten Island in July 1776. General Washington, with a smaller army of about 19,000 men, was uncertain where the Howes intended to strike. He unwittingly violated a cardinal rule of warfare and divided his troops about equally in the face of a stronger opponent. The
Continental Army was split between Long Island and
Manhattan, thus allowing the stronger British forces to engage only one half of the smaller Continental Army at a time.
In late August, the British transported about 22,000 men (including 9,000
Hessians) to Long Island. In the
Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776, the British
outflanked the American positions, driving the Americans back to the
Brooklyn Heights fortifications. General Howe then began to lay siege to the works, but Washington skillfully managed a nighttime
retreat through his unguarded rear across the
East River to
Manhattan Island.
Having taken Long Island, the British moved to seize Manhattan. On September 15, General Howe
landed about 12,000 men on lower Manhattan, quickly taking control of New York City. The Americans withdrew to
Harlem Heights, where they
skirmished the next day, but held their ground.
When Howe moved to
encircle Washington's army in October, the Americans again fell back, and a
battle at White Plains was fought on October 28, 1776. Once more Washington retreated, but Howe, instead of aggressively pursuing the withdrawal, returned to Manhattan and captured
Fort Washington in mid November, taking almost 3,000 prisoners. Four days later,
Fort Lee, across the
Hudson River from Fort Washington, was also taken.
The British gained control of New York harbor and the surrounding agricultural areas, and held New York City and
Long Island until the war ended in 1783. The Americans had suffered significant casualties and lost important supplies, but Washington managed to withdraw the core of his army and avoided the decisive confrontation that could have ended the war.
Retreat across New Jersey
General Lord Cornwallis continued to chase Washington's army through New Jersey until the Americans withdrew across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania in early December. With the campaign at an apparent conclusion for the season, the British entered winter quarters. They controlled much of New York and New Jersey and were in a good position to resume operations in the spring, with the rebel capital of
Philadelphia in striking distance.
The outlook of the Continental Army — and thus the revolution itself — was bleak. "These are the times that try men's souls,"
wrote Thomas Paine, who was with the army on the retreat. The army had dwindled to fewer than 5,000 men fit for duty and would be reduced to 1,400 after enlistments expired at the end of the year. Spirits were low, popular support was wavering, and
Congress had abandoned Philadelphia in despair.
Washington's counterstrike
Washington reacted by taking the offensive, stealthily
crossing the Delaware on
Christmas night and capturing nearly 1,000 Hessians at the
Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776. Cornwallis marched to retake Trenton but was outmaneuvered by Washington, who successfully attacked the British rearguard at
Princeton on January 3, 1777. Washington then entered winter quarters at
Morristown, New Jersey, having retaken most of the colony from the British.
See also
