The U.S. Army Campaigns of the Revolutionary War
CMH Pub 71-44
GPO S/N: Not Available

The New York Campaign of 1776 was the centerpiece of Great Britain’s war to subdue the American rebellion. As Britain’s main effort, it was the last best chance at quashing the nascent movement for American independence before the spirit of revolution and rebellion spread and deepened throughout the colonies. British planning for the larger campaign of 1776 was comprehensive in concept and grand in scope, but poorly resourced and haltingly executed. The British plans spanned the Atlantic seaboard. (See Map 1.) They included the Royal Navy’s blockade of the American coast, an invasion southward from Canada into the Hudson River Valley, and one northward from New York City into the valley. Britain’s strategic leaders envisioned smaller efforts in the southern colonies but focused on New York. It was there that an army of 30,000 soldiers would land, destroy the Continental Army in battle, and seize the city. In the wake of military victory would come the return of peace and order within the empire. All this and more brought British arms to New York.