justice of his position, 162;
quiets sectional jealousies in army, 162;
his military inferiority to British, 163;
obliged by political considerations to attempt defense of New York, 163, 164;
assumes command on Long Island, 164;
sees defeat of his troops, 165;
sees plan of British fleet to cut off retreat, 166;
secures retreat of army, 167;
explains his policy of avoiding a pitched battle, 167;
anger at flight of militia at Kip's Bay, 168;