Editing William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe (section)

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

[[File:Towhiteplains.JPG|200px|thumb|right|A period map depicting the British Army movements in [[Westchester County, New York]]]]

Howe and his troops began to arrive outside [[New York Harbor|New York Harbour]] and made an uncontested landing on [[Staten Island]] to the west in early July.<ref>Fischer, p. 32.</ref> Howe, whose orders from [[George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville|Lord George Germain]], the Secretary of State responsible for directing the war from Westminster, were fairly clear that he should avoid conflict before the arrival of reinforcements, then waited until those reinforcements arrived in mid-August, along with the naval commander, his brother Richard.<ref>Gruber, p. 84.</ref><ref name=Bil51>Billias, p. 51.</ref> This delay proved to be somewhat costly, since the Americans used this time to improve fortifications on northwestern [[Long Island]] (at [[Brooklyn Heights]] along the [[East River (New York)|East River]] shoreline) and increased the size of their [[Continental Army]] with additional militia.<ref name=Bil51/> After moving most of his army by amphibious barges across the [[The Narrows|Verazzano Narrows]] to southwestern Long Island without opposition, he attacked the American positions on 27 August in what became known as the [[Battle of Long Island]]. In a well-executed manoeuvre, a large column led by Howe and Clinton passed around the American left flank and through the lightly guarded [[Jamaica Pass]] far to the east (a ridge of hills running east to west bisected the island, with a series of lower entrances that were all guarded by Continentals except inexplicably to the farthest east at Jamaica), catching the Patriots off-guard and routing the Americans from their forward positions back into the entrenchments on Brooklyn Heights. Despite the urging of Clinton and others, Howe decided against an immediate assault on these fortifications, claiming "the Troops had for that day done handsomely enough."<ref name=Bil53/> He instead began siege operations, methodically advancing on the entrenched Americans.<ref>Fischer, p. 99.</ref> This decision allowed General Washington to successfully orchestrate a nighttime strategic [[Withdrawal (military)|withdrawal]] across the [[East River (New York)|East River]] on the night of 29–30 August, aided by a thick morning fog.<ref>Fischer, pp. 100–101.</ref> Historian George Bilias notes that had Howe attacked Brooklyn Heights, the capture of even half of Washington's army, and possibly Washington himself, might have had a significant effect on the rebellion.<ref name=Bil53>Billias, p. 53.</ref> Some officers, notably General Clinton, were critical of Howe's decision not to storm the American works.<ref>Gruber, p. 114.</ref> Howe was [[Order of the Bath|knighted]] as a reward for his victory on Long Island.<ref name=Hadden375/>

Howe and his brother Richard had, as part of their instructions, been assigned roles as peace commissioners, with limited authority to treat with the rebels. After Long Island, they pursued an attempt at reconciliation, sending the captured General [[John Sullivan (general)|John Sullivan]] to Philadelphia with a proposal for a peace conference. [[Staten Island Peace Conference|The meeting that resulted]], conducted by Admiral Howe, was unsuccessful. The Howes had been given limited powers, as had the Congressional representatives, and the latter were insistent that the British recognise the recently declared [[United States Declaration of Independence|colonial independence]]. This was not within the Howes' powers, so the conference failed, and Howe then continued the campaign.<ref>Gruber, pp. 116–119.</ref> He first [[Landing at Kip's Bay|landed troops on Manhattan]] on 15 September and occupied New York City (which then covered only Lower Manhattan), although his advance northward on Upper Manhattan was checked the next day [[Battle of Harlem Heights|at Harlem Heights]].<ref>Leckie, pp. 277–278.</ref> He paused, spending nearly one month consolidating control of New York City and awaiting reinforcements.<ref>Gruber, p. 127.</ref> During this time he ordered the execution of [[Nathan Hale]] for espionage and had to deal with the effects of a [[Great Fire of New York (1776)|major fire]] in the city.<ref>Fischer, pp. 106–108.</ref> He then attempted a landing on the mainland at [[Throgs Neck]], intending to flank Washington's position at Harlem Heights. However, the narrow causeway between the beach and the mainland was well-defended, and he ended up withdrawing the troops.<ref>Gruber, pp. 129–131.</ref> He made a successful [[Battle of Pell's Point|landing of troops at Pell's Point]] in [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County]], but Washington managed to avoid being flanked, retreating to [[White Plains, New York|White Plains]].<ref>Gruber, pp. 131–132.</ref> Howe successfully forced Washington out of the New York area in the 28 October [[Battle of White Plains]], and then turned his attention to consolidate British hold on Manhattan.<ref>Fischer, pp. 110–111.</ref> In November he attacked the remaining Continental Army stronghold in the [[Battle of Fort Washington]], taking several thousand prisoners.<ref>Fischer, p. 113.</ref>

[[file:George Washington, 1776.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[George Washington]], driven from New York beginning at the [[Battle of Brooklyn]]<br /> <small>portrait by [[Charles Wilson Peale]] ''1776''</small>]]

Washington then retreated across New Jersey, followed by Howe's advance forces under [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|Charles Cornwallis]].<ref>Fischer, pp. 117–132.</ref> At this point, Howe prepared troops under the command of General Clinton for embarkation to occupy Newport, the other major goal of his plan. Clinton proposed that these troops instead be landed in New Jersey, either opposite Staten Island or on the [[Delaware River]], trapping Washington or even capturing the seat of the Continental Congress, [[Philadelphia]].<ref>Gruber, p. 135.</ref> Howe rejected these proposals, despatching Clinton and General [[Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland|Hugh, Earl Percy]], two vocal critics of his leadership, to take Newport.<ref>Fredriksen, p. 386.</ref> In early December, Howe came to [[Trenton, New Jersey]] to arrange the disposition of his troops for the winter. Washington had retreated all the way across the Delaware, and Howe returned to New York, believing the campaign to be ended for the season.<ref>Gruber, pp. 137–138.</ref> When Washington [[Battle of Trenton|attacked the Hessian quarters at Trenton]] on 26 December 1776, Howe sent Cornwallis to reform the army in New Jersey and chase after Washington.<ref>Fischer, pp. 259–295.</ref> Cornwallis was frustrated in this, with Washington [[Battle of the Assunpink Creek|gaining a second victory at Trenton]] and [[Battle of Princeton|a third at Princeton]]. Howe recalled the army to positions much closer to New York for the winter.<ref>Gruber, pp. 154–156.</ref>

Howe has been criticised by contemporaries and historians for failing to decisively defeat the Continental Army during the New York campaign. Contemporaries complained that his landing in Westchester failed to trap Washington, but failed to understand that his goal in the campaign was to secure Manhattan, and not necessarily to defeat Washington.<ref>Gruber, p. 133.</ref> However, historian George Billias observes that Howe's overly rigid adherence to his plans meant that he was unable to capitalise on the opportunities that arose during the campaign for a decisive action.<ref>Billias, p. 55.</ref>