By March 1776, the brand new Colonial army, led by George Washington (GW), had been laying siege on the city of Boston for 11-months. After a surprising British defeat at Fort Ticonderoga (in NY), colonial leaders, Ethan Allen and Henry Knox brought captured British cannons to Boston. GW put the cannons on Dorchester Heights. British commanding General William Howe realized he could not hold the city. The British evacuated Boston on March 17, The entire British force was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Continental Congress (CC) was unorganized and underfunded. The Continental Army was too small and very poorly trained. The Continental Congress had unrealistic expectations after the British evacuated Boston. The British Army was highly disciplined and organized (and out of sight and out of touch in Halifax).

It was clear that the British evacuation of Boston was a tactical retreat. By early summer, the British were prepared to reassert their power in New York City. Why NYC? July 2nd British led by Gen. William Howe and Adm. Richard Howe land a sizable force on Staten Island. They immediately open communication with the CC to negotiate a peace. By early August, the British had amassed the largest land and naval force in its history.

Washington was forced by Congress to defend an indefensible position. GW was already in NYC and started work on two forts on either side of the Hudson river (FT. Washington and Ft. Lee) before the Howes arrived. Analyzing GW’s defenses, William Howe sent a peace overture before planning his assault. GW refused to receive the British offer. By August, it was clear that British intended to invade the rolling pastures of Brooklyn. By Aug. 22 – 20,000 British troops landed on Long Island. By Aug. 29 – GW retreated across the East River.

After escaping Brooklyn, GW retreats to defensive positions in Harlem Heights. This retreat was harassed by the British army and NYC loyalists. GW quickly realized that keeping the Army together was more important than defending territory. Sept.-Oct. Washington chased north of New York by Howe, Cornwallis and Clinton.

By November 1776 Washington doubles back into New Jersey. Ft. Washington and Ft. Lee are lost to British. GW flees through NJ with General Cornwallis in pursuit. The Continental Army was running...out of food, out of money, out of time, out of their shoes...

By December 1776: GW abandons NJ and crosses into PA. Newport RI is taken by the British navy General Cornwallis occupies Princeton, NJ 3,000 New Jerseyans sign a loyalty oath to British (including the royal governor William Franklin) The Continental Congress evacuates to Baltimore.

Thomas Paine was traveling with the Continental Army - trying to be a soldier, but he was a better writer. At Washington’s personal request, Paine wrote a series of 16 short essays that dramatized the plight of the Continental Army. It was meant to inspire the soldiers whose enlistments were set to expire on Jan. 1st.

Late December, Washington is in desperate need for a victory. Washington targets the British outpost in Trenton that were defended by 1,400 Hessian mercenaries under Col. Johann Rall. Why might this be considered a “surprise attack?” Why might this be considered a “turning point?” Cornwallis leaves Princeton to attack GW, but GW is able to slip past him and attack the remaining British troops in Princeton on Jan. 3 rd.