GENERAL HOWE.
From The Impartial Hist. of the War in America.
In July, when news came of the fall of Ticonderoga, there were no signs that Howe was preparing to coöperate with Burgoyne, and Hamilton wondered (Works, vii. 507, 515). When Howe sailed from New York, Washington was in suspense.[910] On July 31st, it was learned that Howe's fleet was at the capes of Delaware, and the next day the vessels had disappeared.[911] It was now supposed that Howe had gone to Charleston, S. C., and that Washington might safely reinforce the Northern army (Hamilton's Works, vii. 517). Lafayette first took his seat at a council of war called to consider the propriety of this (Sparks's Washington, v. 445).
In August, 1777, Gen. Sullivan conducted a raid into Staten Island to seize Tories. He captured some papers which implicated the Philadelphia Quakers in inimical movements. (Cf. Journals of Congress, ii. 246, 253.) In other respects the incursion was unfortunate, and his movements were examined by a court of inquiry, which acquitted him.[912]
Howe had been six weeks at sea, with three weeks' provisions, when he landed at the Head of Elk.[913]
Upon Washington's march to confront Howe, see, for the preliminary movements, William J. Buck's paper on "Washington's Head Quarters on the Neshaminy", in the Penna. Mag. Hist., i. 275.[914]
GENERAL SIR WILLIAM HOWE.