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.

290 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. L1778.
The number of troops for the Continental army, according to the new establishment agreed upon by the
committee of Congress at Valley Forge, was to be about
forty thousand, besides artillery and horse. When a
council of war was called, on the 8th of May, to consider
what measures should be adopted for future operations,
it was found, that the army, including the detachments
on the North River and at other places, did not then
exceed fifteen thousand men, nor was it supposed
that it could soon be raised higher than twenty thousand effective men. The number at Valley Forge was
eleven thousand eight hundred. The British army in
New York and Philadelphia, as since ascertained from
the adjutant's returns, amounted to nearly thirty thousand, 6f which number nineteen thousand five hundred
were in Philadelphia, and ten thousand four hundred
in New York. There were besides three thousand
seven hundred at Rhode Island; making the whole
British army in the middle and eastern States upwards
of thirty-three thousand.
These numbers are much larger than was imagined
by the council of war. They estimated the enemy's
force in Philadelphia at ten thousand, in New York at
four thousand, and in Rhode Island at two thousand,
besides cavalry and artillery. Upon this basis the
question was discussed, whether it was expedient to.
take the field and act on the defensive, or wait till the
plans of the enemy should become more obvious, and
then be guided by circumstances. There was great
unanimity in the decision. To take the city by storm
was impracticable without a vastly superior force; and
equally so to carry it by siege or blockade, strongly
fortified as it was by nature and artificial works, and by
vessels of war. Militia might be called out, but it was
uncertain in what numbers; and, however numerous,