Howe and the Campaigns of 1776 and 1777 Flashcards
3 points
What were the events of the New York Campaign?
- Following his withdrawl to Halifax in March 1776, Howe planned an assult on New York.
- He started landing troops on Staten Island in June, and also had support from the navy.
- At the Battle of Long Island (August 27th), he defeated the colonists who suffered 2000 losses (6X the British did).
Why did Howe want to take New York?
He wanted to lure Washington into battle, defeat him and negotiate an end to the rebellion.
4 points
What mistake did Howe make after the battle of Long Island and what was its consequences?
- After he won, Howe decided to stay put and negotiate rather than chasing Washinton.
- This allowed Washington to escape with the Continental Army (through a thick fog on August 29th).
- Whilst Howe did meet with representatives from Congress (Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Edward Rutledge) they wouldn’t agree to get rid of the declaration of independence, and Howe didn’t have the authority to negotiate with an independent America.
- This meant that his decision to not follow Washington was a complete waste where he gained nothing and lost a massive opportunity to capture the enemy.
3 points
What victories did Howe win towards the end of 1776?
- On November 16th, British forces captured Fort Washington, capturing 3000 men in the colonial army and taking supplies.
- After this, they went on to seize Newport and Rhode Island.
- This caused Washington to think he had pretty much lost, especially considering the depleted state of his army.
3 points
What mistake did Howe make following his victories in late 1776 and what was its consequences?
Trenton and Princeton
- Instead of taking Philadelphia following his recent victories, Howe decided to go into winter quarters, which allowed Washington to regroup.
- Washington used the opportunity to cross the Delaware with 1600 men and attack Trenton, New Jersey on December 26th, where he captured 1000 men. He followed this with a similar attack on Princeton on Jan 3rd.
- This returned morale to the American Army.
How did Washington change strategy over the winter of 1776 - 1777?
He realised that due to numbers he couldn’t defeat Howe in a big pitch battle. He changed his strategy to hit and run attacks (e.g. Trenton and Princeton), while making keeping his army together a priority.
What was the British Plan in early 1777?
- In early 1777, there were 2 main British forces in America: one in New York under Howe and the second in Canada under General Burgoyne.
- The plan was for Burgoyne to move his troops down the Hudson Valley and isolate New England from the cother colonies.
- Howe was to march up through New York to join and co-ordinate with Burgoyne.
4 points
What did Howe do instead of meet with Burgoyne and what was the consequences of his actions?
- Instead of meeting with Burgoyne, Howe decided to capture Philadelphia.
- He moved his troops there by sea, making them land at Chesapeake Bay and walk from there (it was barley 64km shorter than where they had been in New York, and involved a long sea journey).
- Howe did manage to capture Philadelphia.
- However, Philadephia had little strategic value, and Congress simply moved. The move had no advantage.
4 points
What British weaknesses limited Howe?
- They faced a hostile population and had to rely on supplies from England, meaning they had to stay close to the ports and sea.
- They were unused to the geography of America and the huge distances they would have to travel and navigate.
- Occupation of a territory was never assured since once they left the rebells would simply return.
- Communicating with other commanders, not least those back in England, was hard due to the large distances, so it was hard to communicate information and orders.
