1776

The Continental Army was established to better recruit, organize, and coordinate the American forces during the Revolutionary War. The Continental Congress founded the army in 1775. It consisted of soldiers from all 13 colonies, with George Washington serving as its commander-in-chief until the war’s end in 1783.

The Hessians were German soldiers who allied with the British during the Revolutionary War. They were widely renowned for their strict discipline and military proficiency, and this reputation caused many colonists to fear them as cruel and indifferent mercenaries. The Hessians forces were key to Britain’s victories in New York, especially at Fort Washington.

This petition—primarily authored by John Dickinson but with contributions from Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Johnson, John Jay, and John Rutledge—was signed by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 and then sent to King George III. The petition was an attempt to avoid war between Britain and the colonies, though the king refused to read it. The petition enumerated the colonies’ demands, including fair trade practices and tax regulations, laying groundwork for the Declaration of Independence adopted by Congress the next year.

Though the text begins after the British defeated the colonists at Bunker Hill, it features in Chapters 1 and 2 as a key battle. It was fought while British forces laid siege to Boston early in the war. Though the British won, this victory was costly, as they suffered many more casualties than the Americans. This caused the British to adopt a more considered and calculated strategy in subsequent conflicts, including those in New York and New Jersey, which are explored in later chapters. It also prompted the British to hire the Hessians to supplement their forces.

This campaign encompasses the battles that unfolded in New York and New Jersey, spanning from July 1776 to March 1777. In capturing New York City, Britain crushed the American forces, forcing Washington to give up Long Island and retreat first to Manhattan and later to White Plains. However, this campaign also led to Washington’s famous decision to cross the icy Delaware River, successfully forcing Howe’s forces back up the length of New Jersey toward New York.

This battle was one of few victories for the Americans during the New York campaign. Fortune favored the colonists on this day, as the overconfident British forces advanced too far, exposing their position and enabling Washington to counterattack. The British were forced to withdrawal, which boosted the Continental Army’s morale after enduring so many defeats.