Revolutionary War Historical Article
The American Revolution Month-by-Month August 1776
By Compatriot Andrew "Andy" Stough
Editor's Note: This article was reprinted by Permission of the Gold Country Chapter No. 7 of the CSSAR and was slightly Edited by the Sons of Liberty Chapter of the CSSAR.
When Washington saw that General William Howe was preparing to leave Boston he was certain that Howe had not given up the fight and would return after recouping from the loss of Boston. The question was where would he go? There appeared to be only two places that he might go. Philadelphia and New York were the only candidates. The capture of Philadelphia, the largest city in America would serve little purpose strategically. It was also doubtful that he would attempt to capture Congress. That body had no fixed assets, and could move in the time that it would take to pack their bags and ride away.
The next target had to be New York City. At a mile square it was the second largest city in America. Central to the northern states; blessed with a magnificent harbor and the Hudson River it was the key to dividing the most fractious of the colonies. Washington, understanding the significance of New York to the American cause, dispatched General Charles Lee to give an estimate of what would be required to defend the city. Lee in his report found that the city could not be successfully defended. The city simply could not be held against a coordinated attack by land and water. The very things that made New York important to both sides also made it indefensible. Despite Lee’s warning, Congress felt that New York must be held at all costs and Washington agreed.
General Howe, having arrived in early July was in no hurry to attack, he had the Americans boxed to the east by land forces while Admiral Howe could control all access by water. General Howe and brother Admiral Richard Howe were commissioned by the King to make formal peace overtures to Washington and the Congress. A first a letter addressed to George Washington, Esquire, was summarily rejected. Eventually, after several more rejections, Washington received an emissary from the General who represented himself and his brother as a Committee of Peace who could offer pardons and amnesty to any who surrendered and swore allegiance to the King. Washington felt that no American had done anything wrong and a pardon or amnesty wasn’t needed.
Apparently feeling that the diplomatic niceties with Washington had been satisfied, General Howe on August 22nd began to move troops from Staten Island to Long Island to face the Continental Army. Washington apparently did not understand the threat of the British fleet as he not only kept all troops in place on Long Island, but increased their number by sending in reinforcements. The odds were now about three British to one American soldier, plus the mighty fleet of warships.
The Battle of Long Island began on the morning of 27 August. It was but one of a number of engagements which would yield a series of defeats and retreats before superior forces. It would also reveal a continuing problem of American forces in the months ahead. Namely, that too frequently American commanders encouraged by their success at Breed’s Hill put too much emphasis on facing the enemy from a fortification, overlooking the fact that had Howe used both land and naval forces in an encircling movement there would have been a massacre of the Americans at Breed’s Hill. A new tactic by the British was the use of Tories to find a way for troops to use little known or obscure routes to encircle the American force while a British frontal force kept their attention.
While the first engagement of troops occurred at 3 a.m. on the 27th, the actual preparation and first movement of British troops began at 9 p.m. on the 26th. An overnight march placed them behind American forces who were already hotly engaged from the front and flank. Once engaged, the Americans fought valiantly and successfully until they were attacked from the rear. By the end of the battle American losses were close to 1,000 killed and over a thousand captured, British losses were minimal. Leckie reveals that Howe’s victorious young officers were enraged that they were not allowed to storm the Brooklyn fortifications.
Numerous sources relate that after Bunker Hill Howe was a changed man. Once a hard charger in combat he now seemed to always see the slaughter of some of Britain’s finest soldiers as they piled up dead or wounded under the guns of New England farmers. Howe reasoned that time was not of the essence and the rebel fortifications in Brooklyn could be reduced stone by stone under the weight of British sea borne or land cannon.
Washington now assumed total command. He could see that he was completely cut-off and could either be overrun or starved out. It was time to regroup and find a way to get off the island. Fortunately nature took a hand in the proceedings, soaking the ground and stopping all British operations. It was an ordeal for the troops, as they had to suffer in the rain with out food or cover. Washington stayed with the army, sharing their hardships without complaint. He already had their respect, now by undergoing the same hardships he was earning their devotion to him as a commander. Steady as a rock he gave confidence and determination to the soldiers.
The next day reinforcements including the Marblehead Regiment of seafarers arrived. Washington at this time exhibited the forethought that became typical of him and his generals in the years to come. He had previously ordered that any and all available boats be secured. With the Marblehead and Salem regiments there might be a way out!
Rain became intermittent, allowing British cannon to move ever closer; time was running out! Going about during the day as if he was going to continue defense of the island he planned a desperate gamble that he could cross the East River to Manhattan.
With his mind made up he called a staff meeting and it was agreed that a retreat from Long Island was necessary. On the night of 30 August, with some good fortune, secrecy, masterful planning and a surprising amount of discipline on the part of raw troops the force was pulled off the island by Marblehead and Salem fishermen.
There have been some who surmise that divine providence also helped. A bitter storm contained the Royal Navy while in the later stages a dense fog opportunely appeared concealing the withdrawal when it was most vulnerable. Though the battle may have been disastrous, the retreat was remarkable. So much so that a ranking British officer described it as “glorious.” American losses were three men who stayed behind to plunder.
References: Don Higginbotham’s “The War of American Independence”; Robert Leckie’s “George Washington ’s War”; National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution's “Principal Events”; Encyclopedia Britannica’s “The Revolutionary Years”; U.S.Army’s “American Military History” .
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