The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

202 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1776.
tempt the British commander to try the experiment of
an assault. His army lay inactive on the plains below
more than three weeks. General Washington employed
the time in strengthening his works, and preparing at
all points for defence. His lines in fi'ont extended from
Haerlem River to the Hudson, quite across the Island,
which at this place is somewhat more than a mile wide.
General Greene commanded on the Jersey side, with
his head-quarters at Fort Lee; and General Heath at
Kingsbridge, beyond which, on a hill towards the Hudson, a fort was erected, called Fort Independence.
General Howe was raised to the honor of knighthood
by his sovereign, after the news of the battle of Long
Island reached England. But his good fortune did
not inspire him with confidence. Notwithstanding his
superior force, the expectation of a speedy addition to it
from Europe, and his successes hitherto in driving the
Americans before him, he seems not to have looked
forward with sanguine hopes to the issue of the campaign. In a letter to the ministry he said; "The enemy
is too strongly posted to be attacked in front, and
innumerable difficulties are in our way of turning him
on either side, though his army is much dispirited from
the late success of his Majesty's arms; yet have I not
the smallest prospect of finishing the combat this campaign, nor until the rebels see preparations in the spring,
that may preclude all thoughts of further resistance.
To this end I would propose eight or ten line-of-battle
ships to be with us in February, with a number of
supernumerary seamen for manning boats, having fully
experienced the want of them in every movement we
have made. We must also have recruits from Europe,
not finding the Americans disposed to serve with arms,
notwithstanding the hopes held out to me upon my
arrival in' this port." This last point was a source of