Part 6 (2/2)

Unscathed by steady fire from the Manhattan and New Jersey shores, the Phoenix Phoenix and the and the Rose Rose streamed up the Hudson River and pounded the urban population of New York with a terrifying two-hour cannonade that shrouded the city in smoke and panicked its occupants The episode demonstrated the vulnerability to British warshi+ps of a town encircled by water Attuned to the psychology of war, Washi+ngton saith disht civilians Since his own early combat experience had been in frontier locations, this urban chaos was soether new for hiton observed, ”the shrieks and cries” of the wo and I fear will have an unhappy effect on the ears andand inexperienced soldiery” streamed up the Hudson River and pounded the urban population of New York with a terrifying two-hour cannonade that shrouded the city in smoke and panicked its occupants The episode demonstrated the vulnerability to British warshi+ps of a town encircled by water Attuned to the psychology of war, Washi+ngton saith disht civilians Since his own early combat experience had been in frontier locations, this urban chaos was soether new for hiton observed, ”the shrieks and cries” of the wo and I fear will have an unhappy effect on the ears andand inexperienced soldiery”26 Afterward Washi+ngton tried to clear the city of re civilians to avoid a repetition of the episode He was especially indignant at soldiers who had stood hypnotized by British shi+ps boton chastised theood officer and give the enemy a mean opinion of the armya weak curiosity at such a time ton tried to clear the city of re civilians to avoid a repetition of the episode He was especially indignant at soldiers who had stood hypnotized by British shi+ps boton chastised theood officer and give the enemy a mean opinion of the armya weak curiosity at such a time ton feared, the British shi+ps' foray in the Hudson severed coically located upstate lakes Just as Washi+ngton feared, the British shi+ps' foray in the Hudson severed coically located upstate lakes

Washi+ngton had gotten his first unforgettable taste of British sea power Because of their speed and mobility, enemy shi+ps could disappear, then surface anywhere, and they would keep him in suspense for the next seven years As he would coe the enemy derive from their shi+ps and the command of the water keeps us in a state of constant perplexity”28 On the evening of the On the evening of the Phoenix Phoenix and and Rose Rose episode, Washi+ngton and his officers noticed that the appearance of a new shi+p, the episode, Washi+ngton and his officers noticed that the appearance of a new shi+p, the Eagle, Eagle, triggered delirious cheers from British soldiers aboard shi+ps and encamped on Staten Island, and they deduced correctly that Adered delirious cheers from British soldiers aboard shi+ps and encamped on Staten Island, and they deduced correctly that Admiral Richard Howe had arrived

The Howe brothers, whose grandfather had been elevated to the peerage by King Williae Washi+ngton e III, they had beco raceful, the pleasure-loving General William Howe, forty-seven, had bold eyebrows, full lips, and a dusky coht bravely at Quebec in the French and Indian War and exposed hied the vices co, and saw no reason why the American war should dampen his escapades He took as his North A Boston-born Elizabeth Lloyd Loring and , Jr, a commissary of prisoners This opportunistic husband, content to be cuckolded, played the bawd for his wife, who became notorious as ”the Sultana of the British army”29 As one Loyalist writer said cynically, ”Joshua had no objections He fingered the cash, the general enjoyed madam” As one Loyalist writer said cynically, ”Joshua had no objections He fingered the cash, the general enjoyed madam”30 Ader brother, had earned the nickname ”Black dick,” which referred to both his complexion and to his downcast nature He was a soht-lipped, with a cool, soaze So marked was his reticence that Horace Walpole described him as ”silent as a rock” Ader brother, had earned the nickname ”Black dick,” which referred to both his complexion and to his downcast nature He was a soht-lipped, with a cool, soaze So marked was his reticence that Horace Walpole described him as ”silent as a rock”31 For all that, he was a superb sea spirit, and ethical standards For all that, he was a superb sea spirit, and ethical standards

As convinced believers in the British Erievances, the Howe brothers didn't want to crush the patriots in a total war of annihilation Still hopeful that their uided American cousins could be restored to their senses, they ca both peace and a sword In the coy with political as well as military considerations in mind

On July 14, in their capacity as peace commissioners, the Howe brothers sent Lieutenant Philip Broith apresence of the British fleet, Richard Howe requested, in polite terms, a parley: ”The situation in which you are placed and the acknowledged liberality of your sentiments, induce me very much to wish for an opportunity to converse with you on the subject of the coed”32 Washi+ngton tended to be skeptical of peace overtures as ruses used to ”distract, divide, and create as much confusion as possible,” as he characterized theht send coton tended to be skeptical of peace overtures as ruses used to ”distract, divide, and create as much confusion as possible,” as he characterized theht send commissioners33 Lieutenant Brown's boat was intercepted between Governors Island and Staten Island by three American boats, whose crews demanded to know his business When Brown said that he had a letter for Washi+ngton, the Aht instructions onshore The three American officers who came out to handle the situation-Henry Knox, Joseph Reed, and Saton They told Brown that they refused to touch the letter until he told them to whom it was addressed When Brown retorted that it was addressed to ”George Washi+ngton Esq, etc etc,” they said no such person existed and they couldn't receive it Somewhat mystified, Brown asked to whom it should be addressed, and his interlocutors replied that ”all the world kneho Gen[era]l Washi+ngton was since the transactions of last summer”34 Brown tried to strike a conciliatory tone ”I aly this affair, as the letter is quite of a civil nature and not a military one” Brown tried to strike a conciliatory tone ”I aly this affair, as the letter is quite of a civil nature and not a military one”35 Thus ended the initial standoff Thus ended the initial standoff

Washi+ngton knew that this exchange involved much more than the fine points of decorum He was now the de facto head of state of a newly itimacy of his authority ”I would not upon any occasion sacrifice essentials to punctilio,” Washi+ngton explained to Hancock, ”but in this instanceI deemed it a duty to my countryto insist upon that respect which in any other than a public vieould willingly have waived”36 Lord Howe's secretary, Aton's rebuff ”So high is the vanity and the insolence of these men!There now seems no alternative but war and bloodshed, which must lay at the door of these unhappy people” Lord Howe's secretary, Aton's rebuff ”So high is the vanity and the insolence of these men!There now seems no alternative but war and bloodshed, which ton suspected that the British would renew their entreaty, and on July 16 he spurned another letter addressed to ”George Washi+ngton, Esq” Serle again gnashed his teeth, re that the letter ”was refused for the saiven before”38 His re attitude of at least so to him as if he were still a youthful subaltern in the French and Indian War, Serle sneered that ”it seems to be beneath a little paltry colonel of militia at the head of banditti or rebels to treat with the representative of his lawful sovereign because 'tis iive all the titles which the poor creature requires” His re attitude of at least so to him as if he were still a youthful subaltern in the French and Indian War, Serle sneered that ”it seems to be beneath a little paltry colonel of militia at the head of banditti or rebels to treat with the representative of his lawful sovereign because 'tis iive all the titles which the poor creature requires”39 Washi+ngton planned to teach the British a lesson They finally sent him a letter on July 17, addressed to ”His Excellency, General Washi+ngton,” with a request that he meet with Lieutenant Colonel Jaeneral of General Willia that protocol had been satisfied, Washi+ngton agreed to meet with the British officer on July 20 He chose as his venue Henry Knox's headquarters at 1 Broadway, near the water; if a spot deeper inside the city had been chosen, he would have needed to blindfold Paterson, and he didn't care to deton planned to teach the British a lesson They finally sent him a letter on July 17, addressed to ”His Excellency, General Washi+ngton,” with a request that he meet with Lieutenant Colonel Jaeneral of General Willia that protocol had been satisfied, Washi+ngton agreed to meet with the British officer on July 20 He chose as his venue Henry Knox's headquarters at 1 Broadway, near the water; if a spot deeper inside the city had been chosen, he would have needed to blindfold Paterson, and he didn't care to dee arrived at the Battery with Colonel Paterson Washi+ngton wanted to impress upon the British en nation, he should be treated with all due dignity His personal guard lined up in crisp forton appeared in full battlefield regalia, leading Knox to tell his wife that the general was ”very handsoecraft had the desired effect upon Paterson, who ”appeared awestruck, as if he was before so supernatural,” wrote Knox ”Indeed, I don't wonder at it He was before a great ecraft had the desired effect upon Paterson, who ”appeared awestruck, as if he was before so supernatural,” wrote Knox ”Indeed, I don't wonder at it He was before a great roveled considerably and prefaced every sentence with ”May it please your Excellency” or ”If your Excellency so pleases” Paterson groveled considerably and prefaced every sentence with ”May it please your Excellency” or ”If your Excellency so pleases”42 Washi+ngton exacted revenge for previous indignities When Paterson laid on the table the original letter froton Esq etc etc,” Washi+ngton wouldn't pick it up and balked at the et ceteras Paterson explained that the et ceteras iton retorted, ”It does so-and anything! ” Washi+ngton exacted revenge for previous indignities When Paterson laid on the table the original letter froton Esq etc etc,” Washi+ngton wouldn't pick it up and balked at the et ceteras Paterson explained that the et ceteras iton retorted, ”It does so-and anything! ”43 He was suavely implacable before Paterson's studied servility He was suavely implacable before Paterson's studied servility

At this point Paterson launched into a prepared speech about how the goodness and benevolence of the king had induced him to send the Howe brothers to reach an acco the first step Washi+ngton denied that he was vested with powers to negotiate a settlement Then he shohat a deft diploued that the Howe brothers had only the power ”to grant pardons; that those who had co e deeed that this opened a wide field for discussion Washi+ngton re hi him ”to partake of a small collation” before he returned to his shi+p Paterson acknowledged that this opened a wide field for discussion Washi+ngton re hi him ”to partake of a small collation” before he returned to his shi+p45 He was always careful to separate the personal from the political, the man froton, their diplomatic overture failed The saton wrote to Colonel Adam Stephen and decried ”the vile ents” He was always careful to separate the personal from the political, the man froton, their diplomatic overture failed The saton wrote to Colonel Adam Stephen and decried ”the vile ents”46 Two days later he disanda exercise calculated expressly ”to deceive and unguard, not only the good people of our own country, but those of the English nation that were averse to the proceedings of the king and ministry” Two days later he disanda exercise calculated expressly ”to deceive and unguard, not only the good people of our own country, but those of the English nation that were averse to the proceedings of the king and hts on independence, his vision was unblinking, and his consistency proved one of his hts on independence, his vision was unblinking, and his consistency proved one of his ton'ssky ”Froh to roast an egg,” Knox groused to his wife ”Indeed, ue in my life”48 It was precisely the atmosphere in which disease festered, and dysentery, typhoid fever,up to a third of them ”The vile water here sickens us all,” wrote Philip Fithian, a Presbyterian chaplain attached to the New Jersey militia ”I am very sick” It was precisely the atmosphere in which disease festered, and dysentery, typhoid fever,up to a third of them ”The vile water here sickens us all,” wrote Philip Fithian, a Presbyterian chaplain attached to the New Jersey militia ”I aile healthy officer The men often relieved themselves in open ditches, until Nathanael Greene warned that ”the stench arising from such places will soon breed a pestilence in the caile healthy officer The men often relieved themselves in open ditches, until Nathanael Greene warned that ”the stench arising from such places will soon breed a pestilence in the caton allowed the regietables to coton advised the shi+rts so the British would think they faced an army of skilled backwoods e, Greene handed out three hundred spears All in all, the Continental Arrel corps that flouted the rules of conventional warfare It was a far more peculiar ar Aest that was ever collected: old ed for theto Greene's request, Washi+ngton allowed the regietables to coton advised the shi+rts so the British would think they faced an army of skilled backwoods e, Greene handed out three hundred spears All in all, the Continental Arrel corps that flouted the rules of conventional warfare It was a far more peculiar ar Aest that was ever collected: old ed for the enerals, Washi+ngton counted the bluff Israel Putnaeneral in New York In response to Washi+ngton's pleas, Congress added William Heath, Joseph Spencer, John Sullivan, and Nathanael Greene as hest hopes on Greene, appointing hi affirmation of trust in a ued by ill health, Greene had succumbed to jaundice earlier in the year ”I aone, and my flesh too,” he told his brother Jacob ”I am so weak that I can scarcely walk across the rooust, as the Continental Arton that he was struggling with a ”raging fever” and could scarcely sit up in bed52 It was a catastrophic developton, who evacuated Greene to a house north of the city and replaced hiotistical lawyer from New Hampshi+re, the son of Irish indentured servants, Sullivan had wild, unruly hair and a confrontational personality Washi+ngton took a balanced view of Sullivan, crediting hi ”spirited and zealously attached to the Cause” but suffering fro popular” It was a catastrophic developton, who evacuated Greene to a house north of the city and replaced hiotistical lawyer from New Hampshi+re, the son of Irish indentured servants, Sullivan had wild, unruly hair and a confrontational personality Washi+ngton took a balanced view of Sullivan, crediting hi ”spirited and zealously attached to the Cause” but suffering fro popular”53 Willia, who had been in charge of New York's fortifications, was appointed to take over Sullivan's division Before the war Washi+ngton had tried to help the rich, free-spending Stirling with his crippling debts A convivial uish himself as a brave soldier and a steadfast supporter of Washi+ngton Willia, who had been in charge of New York's fortifications, was appointed to take over Sullivan's division Before the war Washi+ngton had tried to help the rich, free-spending Stirling with his crippling debts A convivial uish himself as a brave soldier and a steadfast supporter of Washi+ngton

With the patriots feeling beleaguered as never before, the question of ton and his officers The ar only two years of enerals Pessi, Henry Knox told his brother that the Continental Army was ”not sufficiently numerous to resist the formidable attacks which will probably be y, ”a war of posts,” which he defined thus: ”prolong, procrastinate, avoid any general action, or indeed any action, unless we have great advantages” Joseph Reed espoused a cautious strategy, ”a war of posts,” which he defined thus: ”prolong, procrastinate, avoid any general action, or indeed any action, unless we have great advantages”55 Under this strategy, the patriots would fortify a few strong, inable positions and invite the British to attack at their peril Charles Lee wanted to fragment the army into nimble mobile units that could swoop down and harass the ene forced to adopt a cautious strategy of trying to survive as best he could and attacking only when unusual chances eed The aim was to keep the Continental Ared war of attrition, hoping all the while to attract European allies who y, the patriots would fortify a few strong, inable positions and invite the British to attack at their peril Charles Lee wanted to fragment the army into nimble mobile units that could swoop down and harass the ene forced to adopt a cautious strategy of trying to survive as best he could and attacking only when unusual chances eed The aim was to keep the Continental Ared war of attrition, hoping all the while to attract European allies whoblow to the enemy

The British, for their part, did did have to win a military victory; a stale defeat They rejected a blockade of A even for the Royal Navy One faction favored the blatant application of terror to scare the colonists into suby, tried in Falmouth and Norfolk, had backfired and unified the Americans The Howe brothers opted for a enda than theira concerted atteiance of the rebels and to mobilize Loyalists They wanted to establish a British citadel in New York that would serve as a base of operations to sustain hit-and-run raids against Atlantic seaports, enabling their army to move more swiftly than the land-bound Continental Army Most of all, they wanted to doland from the other states have to win a military victory; a stale defeat They rejected a blockade of A even for the Royal Navy One faction favored the blatant application of terror to scare the colonists into suby, tried in Falmouth and Norfolk, had backfired and unified the Americans The Howe brothers opted for a enda than theira concerted atteiance of the rebels and to mobilize Loyalists They wanted to establish a British citadel in New York that would serve as a base of operations to sustain hit-and-run raids against Atlantic seaports, enabling their army to move more swiftly than the land-bound Continental Army Most of all, they wanted to doland froton awaited the British onslaught, his overburdened mind turned where it always did for coust, in his spare roves of trees that would brighten up each end of his mansion Only recently he had heard from Jacky Custis that British men-of-war had sailed up the Pototon's mind preferred to dwell on sylvan visions of horounds clearly in his mind, down to the last bush ”There is no doubt but that the honey locust, if you could procure seed enough and that seed would coe,” he wrote to Lund Washi+ngton ”So will the haw or thornbut cedar or any kind of evergreen would look better However, if one thing will not do, weof hedges, not only for ornament but use”56 A few days later this escapist vision would be blotted out by the bloodshed in Brooklyn A few days later this escapist vision would be blotted out by the bloodshed in Brooklyn

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Disaster BY MID-AUGUST fresh contingents of British shi+ps had converged on New York, rounding out an expeditionary force of 32,000 troops, including 8,000 Hessian nitude of the threat to the Continental Ar a major statement about the peril of the American revolt, the Crown had enlisted seventy warshi+ps, a full half of the Royal Navy, to deliver an overwhelamble all on a military solution to a conflict that was, at botto the lost trust of the forton knew the stage was set for a major confrontation ”An attack is now therefore to be expected,” he wrote, ”which will probably decide the fate of A, was sadly outnuh he tried to put on a brave face, he approached the i confrontation with dread ”When I compare” the British Army ”with that which we have to oppose the very anxious apprehensions,” he confided to Brigadier General Williaston His ar, was sadly outnuh he tried to put on a brave face, he approached the i confrontation with dread ”When I compare” the British Army ”with that which we have to oppose the very anxious apprehensions,” he confided to Brigadier General Williaston2 As ton's arrabbed frohly professional ton's pronouncee, as if he intuited the many deaths that lay ahead ”We eneral orders ”With this resolution and the blessing of heaven, victory and success certainly will attend us” As ton's arrabbed frohly professional ton's pronouncee, as if he intuited the many deaths that lay ahead ”We eneral orders ”With this resolution and the blessing of heaven, victory and success certainly will attend us”3 The night of August 21, almost the eve of battle, witnessed an electrical storht have been conjured up by Shakespeare Major Abner Benedict, posted on the elevated portion of Long Island known as Brooklyn Heights, which towered over the East River and housed the raphic description of the celestial pyrotechnics whizzing through the sky: ”In a few minutes the entire heavens became black as ink, and frohtningThe lightning fell in masses and sheets of fire to earth, and seemed to strike incessantly and on every side”4 The Howe brothers postponed an invasion to give the Hessian troops a week to recuperate from their transatlantic journey and to see if their feeble peace overtures bore fruit Baffled by the delay, Washi+ngton found ”soly mysterious in the conduct” of these brothers, who spouted catchphrases of peace ae military buildup5 The paramount question hether the ene Washi+ngton to hedge his bets by dividing his forces This strategy, if see British shi+ps stor links between the arton sank wrecks in the channels of Upper New York Bay-one could seeup from the water-and seeded the East River with spiked obstacles to thwart vessels The paramount question hether the ene Washi+ngton to hedge his bets by dividing his forces This strategy, if see British shi+ps stor links between the arton sank wrecks in the channels of Upper New York Bay-one could seeup from the water-and seeded the East River with spiked obstacles to thwart vessels

As storht infantry and grenadiers began trickling ashore at Gravesend Bay, at the southwestern corner of Long Island By day's end, 15,000 redcoats had established a solid beachhead in the kind of well-drilledforce would soon nuton, deceived by faulty intelligence, estihborhood of 8,000 or 9,000as a diversion fro island to draw our forces into that quarter”6 He was further led astray when British forces came to a dead halt at Flatbush, threethe ton transferred ten battalions to Brooklyn, bringing total troop strength there to a paltry 6,000 ton's strategic vision could have been so clouded as ninety British shi+ps conducted a grand-scale movement in the Narrows He was further led astray when British forces came to a dead halt at Flatbush, threethe ton transferred ten battalions to Brooklyn, bringing total troop strength there to a paltry 6,000 ton's strategic vision could have been so clouded as ninety British shi+ps conducted a grand-scalehis Long Island defenses with General Sullivan, Washi+ngton decided to deploy 3,000 hts of Guana (or Gowanus Heights), which ran roughly east-west and could cut off any northward thrusts by the enemy With his ested that courage could outweigh sheer numbers and i in their own land and in the best of causes, can do against base hirelings and mercenaries”7 Just in case noble principles didn't work, Washi+ngton reiterated that any cowards who fled would be shot His own jitters became palpable when he proenerals that exposed the flimsy command structure of the Continental Army So murky was the situation that nobody quite kne e Washi+ngton, age forty-four, was betraying his inexperience in guiding such a large arton reiterated that any cowards who fled would be shot His own jitters became palpable when he proenerals that exposed the flimsy command structure of the Continental Army So murky was the situation that nobody quite kne e Washi+ngton, age forty-four, was betraying his inexperience in guiding such a large arined that the British would squeeze the Americans with a pincerlikeup toward Brooklyn Heights while British shi+ps ain scrutinized the Long Island troops and was enraged by what he saw-so more like a crazy carnival atledy-piggledy and firedto Israel Putnaulated arood order and discipline of the first, and the licentious and disorderly behavior of the latter”8 In his writings, Old Put seeinrol Washenton” that he had asked ”each ginrol ofesor [each general officer]” to trans]” In his writings, Old Put seeinrol Washenton” that he had asked ”each ginrol ofesor [each general officer]” to trans]” 9 9 Putnahted the difficulties Washi+ngton encountered in forlish highlighted the difficulties Washi+ngton encountered in forust 26, after visiting the Heights of Guana, Washi+ngton still didn't grasp the full scope of the threat Though he surveyed the British troops through his spyglass and observed a sea of white tents stretching nearly five miles down to Gravesend Bay, he still kept more than half his men in Manhattan Only when British shi+ps retreated back down the Narrows did the uncomfortable truth dawn on him As he informed Hancock, the ene Island and to rand push there”10 Incredibly, with the vast British expeditionary force set to pounce, Washi+ngton took ti a flour shi+pment in Hispaniola He rambled on about chi of the Mount Vernon ton found a release fro about his estate, his battlefield sedative He confessed to Lund that being the top general was a joyless existence: ”If I did not think our struggle justsure I am that no pecuniary satisfaction upon earth can compensate the loss of all my domestic happiness and requite me for the load of business which constantly presses upon and deprives me of every enjoyment” Incredibly, with the vast British expeditionary force set to pounce, Washi+ngton took ti a flour shi+pment in Hispaniola He rambled on about chi of the Mount Vernon ton found a release fro about his estate, his battlefield sedative He confessed to Lund that being the top general was a joyless existence: ”If I did not think our struggle justsure I am that no pecuniary satisfaction upon earth can compensate the loss of all my domestic happiness and requite me for the load of business which constantly presses upon and deprives enious battle plan that envisioned a fantastic triple assault against A, Scottish hlanders up the Gowanus Road in a diversionarythe west coast of Brooklyn In the second prong, Lieutenant General Leopold Philipp, Freiherr von Heister, would h Flatbush, then swerve northward through central Brooklyn to the Heights of Guana The piece de resistance, however, would be the third movement farther east Generals Howe, Henry Clinton, and Charles Cornwallis would sweep around to the right and h Flatlands Once past Sullivan's and Stirling'sthe Jaap in the Aton and his generals With these defenses breached, the wide flanking hts and bring the theust 26 Washi+ngton was shaken from his sleep in Manhattan by news of General Grant's eton's preconception that the ene the Royal Navy to provide cover When Washi+ngton awoke again at sunrise, the British further fed his delusion by sending five warshi+ps, assisted by opportune winds and tides, toward the East River Had the shi+ps reached their destination, itit in half and threatening Brooklyn Heights fro the shi+ps back down the harbor At that point Washi+ngton and Joseph Reed took a s Israel Putnam and four thousand Americans hunkered down inside the fort atop the Brooklyn bluff Washi+ngton ordered iments to cros