Campaign
2 primary works
Book 135
In June 1778, Clinton decided to evacuate his army from Philadelphia to New York. Washington sent almost half his army to strike at the rear of the British when Clinton moved out of Monmouth Courthouse. However, confusion among Lee's troops led to their attacks being repulsed. Washington himself later withstood a series of powerful British attacks but the heat and lack of water led to the battle petering out. The battle was the last major action in the Northern theatre, and also the longest and hardest-fought engagement of the entire Revolutionary War. This book analyses this crucial battle which has until now been shrouded in confusion and obscurity.
Book 144
Despite the massive setbacks suffered at the outset of the War of Independence. British strategy for 1776 was to overawe the enemy with a show of force. A major component of this plan was the capture of New York, a task entrusted to Sir William Howe and his brother, Lord Richard Howe. On 22 August, 15,000 troops landed, unopposed, at Gravesend Bay and forced Washington to abandon Long Island. Three weeks later, Howe occupied New York City, entering unopposed. Howe moved again on 12 October, by which time Washington had left garrisons in Fort Washington and Fort Lee and had regrouped. Howe managed to take both forts, but Washington escaped.