I see you are more than living up to your name. So be it.
The Battle of New York brings into focus the variables which are inherent to ALL battles fought and won or merely delayed for a better day, which this one clearly was ... these include but are not limited to ... strength of character, leadership, commitment, a clean heart and a true vision.
You are correct. I will concede that General Washington made several strategic errors when positioning his troops ... 20,000 of them, split between Fort Washington in northern Manhattan ...(at or around what was to become 180th Street on the west side) ... and in Brooklyn Heights. Washington thus had troops on both sides of the East River --- all the way up and down Manhattan Island.
But Washington underestimated Howe's ability to amass ships ... using German mercenaries, eventually enjoinging Cornwallis, Count von Dunop --- and that absolutely despicable Commander whose name will go down in infamy as a souless miscreant ... Commander Clinton.
Add to that the fact that Manhattan was awash in Loyalists, the negative psychological impact this had on the Continental Army can not be overstated. Without a Navy to control the waters around New York Harbor, Washington's forces were split in half and surrounded.
The resulting battle, right in the middle of Manhattan, was of such a fierce and bloody nature, history will use it as a measure of war's fury ~~~ for nothing worse can be imagined.
Still, it was Washington's clear command, steely resolve ... inherent just character ... and the devotion he inspired from his troops which enabled him to retreat successfully, though with many casualties throughout. So thorough, was the retreat, that when the Brits finally made it to Brooklyn Heights ... they found nothing but useless, rusting buckets. HA!
We should remember Manhattan and the Battle of New York ... for it symbolizes all this great, young Country stands for ... courage, strength, resolve and faith.
Posted by: Mordecai Gist