1776: Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis

On the night of August 21, 1776, a storm breaks out in New York, killing ten soldiers. The next morning, the British invasion begins. By 8:00 AM, 4,000 British troops have come ashore at Gravesend Bay in Long Island. By noon, 15,000 have landed, and Loyalist New Yorkers are welcoming them ashore. The British are wowed by the abundance of crops—indeed, Americans in the 1770s enjoy an unusually high quality of life compared to people in most other parts of the world.

Later in the morning, Washington receives word of the British arrival. However, he’s told (incorrectly) that their troops number in the eight- or nine-thousands, so he assumes that the British have another attack planned. He sends a mere 6,000 men out to Long Island, expecting there to be a bigger strike along the Hudson. Washington urges his troops to fight for liberty, telling them, “you are free men, fighting for the blessings of liberty.”

On August 24, the American troops march out to meet the British. British forces still haven’t invaded along the Hudson, but Washington guesses that this is only because of the storm on the night of the 21st. Washington keeps relieving his generals of command and replacing them with others. The contrast between his indecisive leadership and the perfectly executed British invasion of Long Island is striking. By the end of the day, 5,000 Hessians arrive in Long Island, bringing the total size of British forces to 20,000 men.

When Washington arrives in Brooklyn to join his troops, he’s appalled by their disorderliness. He also receives word that British forces in Long Island outnumber him, contrary to what he’d been told. However, he continues to prepare for battle. In Brooklyn Heights, he order his soldiers to build fortifications, and places Lord Stirling in charge of troops near the Gowanus Road. Meanwhile, John Sullivan is placed in charge of troops near Flatbush Road, nearby. Washington believes that the British are going to “make a push” into Brooklyn from Long Island.

It’s been five days since the British landed in Long Island, and still there has not been battle. At night, Washington writes a letter to his wife, Martha Washington. What he writes to her is anybody’s guess—Martha later destroys all but a few of her husband’s letters.

General Henry Clinton of the British army hasn’t distinguished himself in the war with America, having failed in the missions General William Howe has given him, and he’s eager to prove himself. Clinton forms a plan of attack and, instead of giving it to General Howe for approval, sends it directly to the troops and their officers. Clinton’s plan is to send an advance guard into Brooklyn that night, while General Howe will follow the next morning with the remaining 10,000 troops. These troops are experienced, accustomed to adverse conditions, and extremely loyal to George III. They despise their American foes and are eager for battle.

At 9PM, Clinton gives the order for the British troops to march out to Brooklyn. While neither Clinton nor General William Howe realizes it, Clinton’s plan is extremely risky. He’s leading a huge force into unknown territory at night: a surprise attack by the Americans could decimate the British forces. Early in the march, the British forces capture five American scouts; however, the scouts refuse to give up information about Washington’s troops. By dawn, the British troops have made it to Bedford Road. Amazingly, they’ve marched nine miles in darkness and avoided attack. Howe leads the remaining British troops out of Long Island.

In Brooklyn, the American generals realize that the British are approaching the Gowanus Road. Lord Stirling orders his forces—a mere 1,600 soldiers—to hold their fire until the British are within fifty yards. The American troops fight bravely, but they’re badly outnumbered. They’re confused that the British seem to be holding back, and wrongly assume that it’s because the British are frightened. In reality, the British are waiting for the rest of their army to arrive.

By mid-morning, the British and American forces are still fighting. Suddenly, the second half of the British army arrives and surrounds Sullivan’s troops. Sullivan orders his men to retreat, but is captured in battle. The Hessians slaughter thousands of Americans, and the American defenses collapse.

Washington arrives in Brooklyn around 9AM, just before the second half of the British army arrives. He’s horrified by what he sees: his army has been outmanned and outmaneuvered. By 11AM, the Hessians have surrounded Lord Stirling’s troops. Stirling shouts for his men to run away. Terrified, the Americans try to retreat, but many of them die at the hands of British soldiers, while others are taken prisoner. Stirling decides to surrender to the Hessian regiment. By noon, there can be no doubt that the Americans have lost the fight—the first great battle of the Revolutionary War, and the largest battle fought on American soil to date. The Americans have lost a thousand men, while the British have lost only hundreds.

By the morning of August 28, Washington and his troops have retreated into Brooklyn, near the East River. Washington has called additional American troops to Brooklyn from Manhattan. By the end of the day, American reinforcements have arrived in Brooklyn, but a wild storm has begun that prevents the ships from landing. The storm is still blowing the next morning, and Washington’s men are tired. However, the storm protects them from additional British ships landing in Brooklyn.

By noon on August 29, Washington gives an order for all available boats to be rounded up, announcing that there are “many battalions from New Jersey which are coming over to relieve others here,” and that some soliders will be sent away. In the afternoon, Washington holds a meeting with his generals to decide what to do. Many of the generals recommend that Washington retreat, and in the end, there is a unanimous vote to flee. Washington is about to surprise General Howe once again.

By 7PM, the troops have their orders to pack up and prepare for a “night attack” on the British. By 9PM, the least experienced troops head for the Brooklyn ferry, thinking that they’ll be relieved by new soldiers. Washington tells only his top officers about the real plan for the night—stealing away into New York—because he doesn’t want word to get out, for fear that the troops will give some sign that they’re about to leave, leading the British to charge again. By 11PM that night, the winds have died down, making it possible for the American troops near the East River to sail back to New York. Meanwhile, the troops nearest the British have the tough job of making it appear that the entire American army is still present.

By four in the morning, Major Alexander Scammell of the American army rides to the frontlines, looking for his commander, General Thomas Mifflin. Scammell tells Mifflin that Washington is waiting for the arrival of “the last remaining troops.” Mifflin is confused, but Scammell insists that these are the words Washington told him to pass on. Mifflin decides to assemble his regiment and retreat from the British army. Scammell has made a huge mistake: he misinterpreted Washington’s order, and as a result the frontline American troops are leaving sooner than planned.

By the time the frontline troops arrive at the river, Washington is still loading troops into the boats. Washington is appalled that the frontline troops have abandoned their posts and orders them to go back at once. The troops return to the frontlines. Seemingly, the British haven’t even noticed their retreat.

By dawn, most of the American troops still haven’t left. Some of the boats become mired in mud, and some of the heavy artillery proves difficult to move. By daybreak, however, a heavy fog covers Brooklyn, concealing the Americans’ actions from the British. Thanks to the fog, the American troops in Brooklyn are able to escape across the river without being seen. By mid-morning, the British have discovered the Americans’ retreat. They’re astonished, but also pleased, since they can now claim all of Brooklyn for themselves.

George Washington deserves credit for engineering a brilliant escape from Brooklyn. But of course, he also bears some of the blame for the American troops’ failure in Long Island, where they were outnumbered thanks to Washington’s decision to divide the army. Historians still debate General Howe’s decision not to continue attacking the Americans in the afternoon. Had he done so, he might have defeated Washington once and for all. In any event, the news of the Americans’ defeat causes much celebration in London, when it finally reaches Britain. Meanwhile, the Continental Congress is devastated by the defeat, though it doesn’t panic.

When the American troops arrive back in New York from the East River, many of them haven’t slept for days. Washington is so tired that he can’t even muster the energy to write a letter to the Continental Congress. However, he soon begins arranging “new dispositions of our forces.”