Editing Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe (section)

===Blockade===
[[File:Die Anlandung der Englischen Trouppen zu Neu Yorck (cropped).jpeg|thumb|280px|The arrival of British troops in New York in 1776]]
Howe was ordered to institute a [[Blockade|naval blockade]] of the American coastline, but this proved to be ineffective. Howe claimed to have too few ships to successfully accomplish this, particularly as a number had to be detached to support operations by the [[British Army during the American War of Independence|British Army]]. As a result, large amounts of covert French supplies and [[Ammunition|munitions]] were smuggled to America. It has been suggested that Howe's limited blockade at this point was driven by his sympathy with and desire for conciliation with the Americans.<ref>Syrett 2006, pp. 63–64.</ref> By 1778 the blockade was looking more promising, with many merchant ships being taken. Howe complained to London that while his ships were able to successfully guard the southern colonies, the blockade of the northern colonies was still ineffective.<ref>Syrett 2006, p. 75.</ref>