The focus on New Jersey in the American Revolution starts with
an intelligence blunder. As is typical in war time, one is
always trying to guess the enemy's next move. In November of
1776, the American council of war tried to understand the
implications of British General Howe's (picture on the right)
night move back to Manhattan. The council misread Howe's move as
the start of an enemy attack on New Jersey. Based on that
mistake, American troops were shifted from New York, across the
Hudson river, into New Jersey. The Americans were stunned to
learn on November 16th, the British had taken Manhattan's Fort
Washington. And worse news was to follow. By November 20th all
of Manhattan would be under British control and they even
established a foothold in New Jersey with the fall of Fort Lee.
To make matters worse, the American army was now split into
three groups. One group in New Castle on the Croton River, one
group in Peekskill, and Washington was retreating in New Jersey,
heading south. Lord Cornwallis, follo