Editing George Washington (section)

===New York and New Jersey===
{{Main|New York and New Jersey Campaign}}

====Battle of Long Island====
{{Main|Battle of Long Island}}
[[File:Battle_of_Long_Island.png|thumb|alt=Map diagramming the British landing in New York and Washington's retreat|Map of the [[Battle of Long Island]]]]

After the victory at Boston, Washington correctly guessed that the British would return to [[New York City]] and retaliate. He arrived there on April 13, 1776, and ordered the construction of fortifications. He also ordered his forces to treat civilians and their property with respect, to avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered at the hands of British troops.{{sfn|Chernow|2010|pp=229–230}} The British forces, including more than a hundred ships and thousands of troops, began arriving on [[Staten Island]] in July to lay siege to the city.{{sfnm|Fischer|2004|1pp=32–33|Taylor|2016|2pp=162–163}}

Howe's troop strength totaled 32,000 regulars and [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessian auxiliaries]]; Washington had 23,000 men, mostly untrained recruits and militia.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=244–245|Taylor|2016|2pp=162–163}} In August, Howe landed 20,000 troops at [[Gravesend, Brooklyn]], and approached Washington's fortifications. Overruling his generals, Washington chose to fight, based on inaccurate information that Howe's army had only around 8,000 soldiers.{{sfnm|Ellis|2004|1pp=95–96|Chernow|2010|2p=244}} In the [[Battle of Long Island]], Howe assaulted Washington's flank and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties.{{sfn|Taylor|2016|p=164}} Washington retreated to [[Manhattan]].{{sfn|McCullough|2005|pp=186–195}}

Howe sent a message to Washington to negotiate peace, addressing him as "George Washington, Esq." Washington declined to accept the message, demanding to be addressed with diplomatic protocol&mdash;not as a rebel.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1p=240|Pearson|2009|2pp=157–158|Taylor|2016|3p=164}} Despite misgivings, Washington heeded the advice of General Greene to defend [[Fort Washington (Manhattan)|Fort Washington]], but was ultimately forced to abandon it.{{sfnm|McCullough|2005|1pp=236&ndash;237|Chernow|2010|2pp=257&ndash;262|Rhodehamel|2017|3loc=6: Winter Soldier}} Howe pursued and Washington retreated across the [[Hudson River]] to [[Fort Lee Historic Park|Fort Lee]]. In November, Howe [[Battle of Fort Washington|captured Fort Washington]]. Loyalists in New York City considered Howe a liberator and spread a rumor that Washington had set fire to the city.{{sfnm|Alden|1996|1p=137|Taylor|2016|2p=165}} Now reduced to 5,400 troops, Washington's army retreated through [[Province of New Jersey|New Jersey]].{{sfnm|Fischer|2004|1pp=224–226|Taylor|2016|2pp=166–169}}

====Crossing the Delaware, Trenton, and Princeton====
{{Main|George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River|Battle of Trenton|Battle of Princeton}}

[[File:Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware_by_Emanuel_Leutze,_MMA-NYC,_1851.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|alt=painting of Washington standing on a boat being rowed across icy water|[[Washington Crossing the Delaware (1851 paintings)|''Washington Crossing the Delaware'' by Emanuel Leutze]] (1851)]]

Washington crossed the [[Delaware River]] into [[Pennsylvania]], where General [[John Sullivan (general)|John Sullivan]] joined him with 2,000 more troops.{{sfn|Taylor|2016|pp=166–167, 169}} The future of the Continental Army was in doubt due to a lack of supplies, a harsh winter, expiring enlistments, and [[desertion]]s.{{sfnm|Ketchum|1999|1p=235|Chernow|2010|2p=264}} Howe posted a Hessian garrison at [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]] to hold western New Jersey and the east shore of the Delaware.{{sfn|Taylor|2016|p=169}} At sunrise on December 26, 1776, Washington, aided by Colonel Knox and artillery, led his men in [[Battle of Trenton|a successful surprise attack on the Hessians]].{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=270, 275–276|Ferling|2002|2pp=146–147|Fischer|2004|3pp=170, 232–234, 254, 405}}

Washington returned to New Jersey on January 3, 1777, launching [[Battle of Princeton|an attack]] on the British regulars at [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], with 40 Americans killed or wounded and 273 British killed or captured.{{sfnm|Fischer|2004|1p=254|Ketchum|1999|2pp=306–307|Alden|1996|3p=146}} Howe retreated to New York City for the winter.{{sfn|Taylor|2016|p=172}} Washington took up winter headquarters in [[Morristown, New Jersey]].{{sfn|Patterson|2004|p=101}} Strategically, Washington's victories at Trenton and Princeton were pivotal: they revived Patriot morale and quashed the British strategy of showing overwhelming force followed by offering generous terms, changing the course of the war.{{sfnm|1a1=Taylor|1y=2016|1p=172|2a1=Fischer|2y=2004|2p=367|3a1=Willcox|3a2=Arnstein|3y=1988|3p=164}}