The anomalous condition of New York during the later part of 1775 is shown from the Tory point of view in Jones's New York during the Revolution. Rivington's press was destroyed in Nov., 1775 (N. Y. City Manual, 1868, p. 813). There was an irruption from New Jersey into Long Island in Jan., 1776 (Jones, i. 68). In Feb. the military control appears in Col. David Waterbury's orderly-book (Mag. of American Hist., Dec., 1884, p. 555). Moore gives current published reports, including Gov. Tryon's proclamation in March (Diary of the Rev., i. 216). During the same month Lee made a report on the fortifications of the city (N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll., 1871, p. 354), and Field, in his Battle of Long Island, traces the measures of Lee to convert New York into a camp and to root out the Tories on Long Island.
CONSTITUTION ISLAND, 1776.
From the Sparks Maps. Key: "A, Gravel Hill battery, 11 guns. B, Hill clift battery, 3 in front, not finished. C, Marine battery, 8 guns. D, Romain's battery, 14 guns. E, Round Tower, 8 guns." These works were later commanded by those erected at West Point.
Stirling had also been exercising command in New York (Duer's Stirling, 139), and had seized Gov. Franklin of New Jersey (N. J. Archives, x. 702). In April, 1776, Putnam arrived with instructions from Washington (Sparks's Washington, iii. 337), finding Heath fresh from a review of the troops (Moore, i. 228).[745]
With the arrival of Washington in the middle of April, 1776, the campaign may be said to have begun. His batteries soon sent the few British ships in the harbor down to Sandy Hook, and Benjamin Tupper, commanding the little American flotilla, tried to destroy the lighthouse at that point, June 21.[746] Beside the official letters of this time there are numerous private ones.[747]
Late in June and early in July Lord Howe's fleet arrived in the lower harbor, and the troops were landed on Staten Island.[748]
The harbor of New York necessarily had more or less hydrographical treatment in all the early plans. Before the outbreak of hostilities, this may be seen, not only in the Des Barres series of maps, but in the chart of 1764,[749] reproduced in Valentine's Manual (1861, p. 597).[750] After the war began, we find several harbor maps worthy of note.[751]
During June came the plot for assassinating Washington in New York.[752] Washington was discouraged with the progress of the recruiting. "Washington and Mercer's camps recruit with amazing slowness", wrote Jefferson from Philadelphia, July 20th.[753] Mercer commanded the Flying Camp of militia from Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, which were hovering between the British and Philadelphia.[754]