Page 45 - ASM Book 9/2020

“I offer nothing more than
simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense.”
...
“The cause of America is, in a great measure,
the cause of all mankind.”
- Thomas Paine
Redcoats were moved ashore to begin the occupation of New York City.
39
General Howe’s Goal Was to Crush the Continental Army
The British plan for 1776 was to seize control of New York City and isolate the northern colonies from the southern colonies by taking control of the Hudson River. British Major General William Howe also believed the Continental Army could be crushed with a single battle on Long Island.
Howe began evacuating Boston on March 17. He temporarily moved his army to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he started making plans to occupy New York City. After a brief stay, he moved 9,300 Redcoats on 130 transport ships to the city. They landed on
June 30.
General Washington had anticipated Howe’s
move to New York and marched the Continental Army where it occupied Manhattan and Long Island. He ordered the construction of Fort Washington and
Fort Lee along the Hudson River.
Two months later on August 27, the Battle of
Long Island began with British navy cannons bombarding the Americans for five days. At that point, 32,000 British soldiers invaded Manhattan Island and defeated Washington’s troops at Kip’s Bay – marking the beginning of the seven year British occupation of New York City.