A portion of the British army was landed at a point threatening the
retreat of the Americans, and a series of skirmishes of no great
importance took place. The enemy fell back from their most advanced
works, but no general move was undertaken, although, as the numbers on
both sides were about even and the superior fighting powers of the
English had been amply demonstrated, there could have been no doubt as
to the result of a general battle. Lord Howe, however, wasted the time
in a series of petty movements, which, although generally successful,
had no influence upon the result and served only to enable the Americans
to recover from the utter depression which had fallen upon them after
the evacuation of Long Island and the loss of New York.
Gradually the Americans fell back across a country so swampy and
difficult that it was now no longer possible to bring on a general
action. Their retreat had the effect of isolating the important
positions of Kingsbridge and Fort Washington. The latter post was of the
utmost importance, inasmuch as it secured the American intercourse with
the Jersey shore. The fortifications were very strong and stood upon
rising and open ground. It was garrisoned by 3000 of the best American
troops under the command of Colonel Magaw. Washington was gradually
withdrawing his army, and had already given orders that Fort Washington
should be evacuated; but General Lee, who was second in command, so
strongly urged that it should be retained that, greatly against his own
judgment, he was obliged to consent to its being defended, especially as
Colonel Magaw insisted that the fort could stand a siege.
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