Fort Constitution, later renamed Fort Lee, was planned opposite Fort Washington on the Hudson River. [31] He sent a letter to Washington delivered by Lieutenant Philip Brown, who arrived under a flag of truce. Born a Virginia aristocrat, he carefully cultivated his virtues self-control, moderation, civility; his strengths physical and moral to become the most widely admired presence first in the 13 colonies, then in the new nation. When fighting inevitably broke out, the colonists were unable to defend their ground and were forced to retreat and surrender New York. Our Digital Encyclopedia has all of the answers students and teachers need. The Antiquities Act: Its History and the Upcoming Battle for OurLands, The Capture of General Lee at Basking Ridge,NJ, Wine Country 4 Places That Arent InCalifornia. [ENSEMBLE]Here comes the General! [64] The Hessian brigades did not attack, as they were waiting for the pre-arranged signal from the British, who were in the process of outflanking the American lines at that time. On August 26, 1776, before the Battle of Long Island (aka Brooklyn), the entirety of the American army in and around New York City was just over 27,000 men, including sick, and others who couldnt be counted on to fight. [26], On July 6, news reached New York that Congress had voted for independence four days earlier. Howe had decided against a direct frontal assault on the entrenched American positions, choosing instead to begin a siege and setting up lines of circumvallation around the American positions. //