x Howe’s older brother, Richard, had a similar career arc, but in his
case, it was in the navy. Sent to sea at 13 as a midshipman, he,
too, had risen quickly through the ranks, gaining a reputation for
boldness and personal courage. He evinced an unusual degree of
concern for the well-being of the
sailors under his command and
won a series of notable victories,
becoming the youngest admiral in
WKHÀHHW
x :KHQ WKH FRQÀLFW ZLWK WKH
American colonies broke out,
King George III personally asked
the Howe brothers to take charge
of Britain’s land and sea forces
in North America and to resolve
the dispute by peaceful means if
possible but by force if necessary.
x $QRWKHU LPSRUWDQW ¿JXUH ZDV
General Charles Cornwallis. Much
like Howe, Cornwallis was of the
highest aristocratic stock, and he, too, served with distinction in the
Seven Years’ War. It was his army that chased Washington across
the length of New Jersey.
x The soldiers employed by Britain against the Americans were
an experienced group of regular line British infantry regiments
supported by grenadier companies, light companies, mounted
dragoons, and mobile artillery units. The infantry typically fought
deployed into a long line two ranks deep.
x Howe’s army also included a large contingent of Hessian regiments.
These were mercenaries recruited from the Hesse-Kassel region of
Germany. Ultimately, around 20,000 Hessians, plus another 10,000
men from other regions of Germany, would enlist to serve in the
The password chosen by
Washington for the crossing
of the Delaware plainly
UHÀHFWHGZKDWKHEHOLHYHGZDV
at stake: “victory or death.”© Georgios Kollidas/iStock/Thinkstock.