TODAY
Writing to John Hancock, Washington explains that he has sent warnings northward: The enemy may try to seize the narrow Hudson Highlands passes, cutting communication between New York, Albany, and the northern army.
Around 3 p.m., Richard Lord Howe sends a flag toward New York with a letter addressed to “George Washington, Esq.” The perceived slight treats him as a private gentleman, not the commander in chief of the Continental Army. Colonel Joseph Reed tells the British officer there is no such person in the army.
In the aftermath of the British dash up the North River, Washington works to keep a bold naval maneuver from becoming a strategic disaster. In today’s orders, he rebukes the officers and soldiers who, at the alarm, leave their posts to stare from the riverbank. Washington calls their conduct “unsoldierly.”
Meanwhile, off Staten Island, Richard Lord Howe drafts a peace overture to “George Washington Esqr.”—a wording that treats Washington as a private gentleman, not as commander in chief of the Continental Army.
The General was sorry to observe Yesterday that many of the officers and a number of men instead of attending to their duty at the Beat of the Drum; continued along the banks of the North river, gazing at the Ships; such unsoldierly Conduct must grieve every good officer, and give the enemy a mean opinion of the Army, as nothing shews the brave and good soldier more than in case of Alarms, cooly and calmly repairing to his post, and there waiting his orders; whereas a weak curiosity at such a time makes a man look mean and contemptible.
- Washington's General Orders
Washington meets with his council of war in New York and proposes an attack on Staten Island, where British forces are encamped. The council rejects a general assault as too risky, so Washington urges a smaller strike to “alarm the Enemy & encourage our own Troops.”
Then the afternoon breaks open. HMS Phoenix and HMS Rose ride a brisk wind toward the Hudson. Alarm guns sound, American batteries thunder, and smoke rolls over the city. The ships answer with broadsides and keep moving, exposing New York’s vulnerability.
…At about half after three oClock this Evening Two of the Enemies Ships of War … weighed Anchor in the bay opposite Staten Island and availing themselves of a brisk & favourable breeze with a flowing Tide run past our Batteries up the North river without receiving any certain damage that I could perceive notwithstanding a heavy and Incessant Canonade was kept up from our several Batteries.
- George Washington to John Hancock
Washington’s attention is on the army’s health as much as the enemy. The weather is very warm, and he warns that sickness will spread unless officers enforce cleanliness in quarters. Men must change their linen, clean themselves, and avoid cooking where they sleep.
Across the East River, Brigadier General Nathanael Greene sees the same danger. A putrid fever is spreading in his brigade. Greene suspects too much meat in soldiers’ diets. He also asks for extra soap for filthy soldiers worn down by fatigue duty.
The good of the service, the comfort of the men, and the merit of the officers will be so much advanced, by keeping the troops as neat and clean as possible … and as a scrutiny will soon be made, those who shall be found negligent will be punished, and the deserving rewarded.
- Washington's General Orders
In today’s orders, Washington acknowledges that the soldiers and civilians who pulled down King George III’s statue last night may have acted from “Zeal in the public cause,” but he rejects the disorder. The scene looked too much like “riot and want of order.”
To John Hancock, president of Congress, he merely reports that “the measure seemed to have their most hearty assent, the expressions and behavior both of Officers and men testifying their warmest approbation of It.”
’Tho the General doubts not the persons, who pulled down and mutilated the Statue, in the Broadway, last night, were actuated by Zeal in the public cause; yet it has so much the appearance of riot and want of order, in the Army, that he disapproves the manner, and directs that in future these things shall be avoided by the Soldiery, and left to be executed by proper authority.
- Washington's General Orders
Washington has officially received the news: Congress has declared independence. In New York, with British forces gathering nearby, Washington orders the brigades to assemble at 6 p.m. so that the Declaration might be read aloud.
The words have an immediate effect. Cheering soldiers and townspeople surge down Broadway to Bowling Green, where they wrench down the gilded lead statue of King George III. The crowd mutilates the royal figure and much of the lead is later melted into bullets.
The Honorable the Continental Congress, impelled by the dictates of duty, policy and necessity, having been pleased to dissolve the Connection which subsisted between this Country, and Great Britain, and to declare the United Colonies of North America, free and independent STATES: The several brigades are to be drawn up this evening on their respective Parades, at six OClock, when the declaration of Congress, shewing the grounds & reasons of this measure, is to be read with an audible voice.
The General hopes this important Event will serve as a fresh incentive to every officer, and soldier, to act with Fidelity and Courage, as knowing that now the peace and safety of his Country depends (under God) solely on the success of our arms: And that he is now in the service of a State, possessed of sufficient power to reward his merit, and advance him to the highest Honors of a free Country.
- Washington's General Orders
Washington works from New York with the enemy on Staten Island. In a Council of War, he considers how to stop British movement up the Hudson River. The Council decides to sink hulks in the North River to slow the enemy’s advance.
Washington also writes John Hancock about a different kind of military need: German-speaking officers. Congress has resolved to raise a German regiment to counter British and Hessian designs. Washington recommends John David Wilpert, a German-born veteran who had served under him during the French and Indian War.
Washington orders every soldier’s canteen filled each evening, knowing a British attack may come before dawn, when there may be no time to draw water. Four prisoners report that General William Howe, the British army commander on Staten Island, has about 10,000 men and waits for Admiral Richard Howe and a fleet of perhaps 150 ships.
Meanwhile, John Dunlap, the Philadelphia printer to Congress, has printed the first broadsides of the Declaration. Copies begin spreading across the colonies.
From four prisoners taken the other day we are informed, that Genl Howe has already about ten thousand men, being joined by the Regiments from the West Indies and som of the Highland Troops, in his passage hither. That he is in daily expectation of the arrival of Admiral Howe … Those Armies, when united, you will readily conceive will be extremely formidable, and such as will require a large and numerous one on our part to oppose them.
- George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.
New York City is tense. British forces are nearby on Staten Island, and no one knows when the attack will come. Washington orders officers and soldiers to put their arms “in the best Order for service,” because they cannot know how suddenly they may be called out.
In Philadelphia, John Hancock writes that Congress has faced one of the most important questions any assembly can consider. It has dissolved the connection with Great Britain and declared independence. He sends the Declaration for proclamation to the army.
…the Congress have judged it necessary to dissolve the Connection between Great Britain and the American Colonies, and to declare them free & independent States; as you will perceive by the enclosed Declaration, which I am directed to transmit to you, and to request you will have it proclaimed at the Head of the Army in the Way, you shall think most proper.
- John Hancock to George Washington
Washington does not yet know that Congress has approved the Declaration of Independence. From New York, he writes to John Hancock with a military crisis on his mind. The enemy’s designs now seem unmistakable: British general William Howe’s army is already on Staten Island, and Washington expects British admiral Richard Lord Howe’s fleet to arrive soon.
His immediate worry is manpower. He doubts militia from Massachusetts, Connecticut, or New Hampshire will arrive quickly; Connecticut’s men have not arrived at all.
As It now seems beyond question and clear to demonstration, that the Enemy mean to direct their Operations and bend their most vigorous efforts against this Colony, and will attempt to unite their Two Armies, that under Genl Burgoyne and the one Arrived here, I cannot but think … that the Continental Regiments now in the Massachussets Bay should be immediately called from thence, and be employed where there is the strongest reason to beleive their aid will be indispensably necessary.
- George Washington to John Hancock
The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, transforming resistance to British authority into a claim of nationhood. In New York, Washington does not yet receive the news. His day is consumed by immediate military dangers.
The Newark Committee of Correspondence, led by Lewis Ogden, feels the crisis acutely. With local militia drawn toward New York, Newark fears it is exposed across a narrow river from the king’s troops. The committee pleads with Washington to protect its wives and children from British raids.
