lack of interpersonal
skills. Intensely shy, he
was unable to express his
ideas succinctly, usually
resorting to a forceful,
overbearing manner to
compensate. His genuine
good intentions were
thoroughly masked by a
disposition that was quer-
ulous, self-centered, and
suspicious of others.
Gage was consequently
unimpressed by his ad-
vice and chose to ignore
his very sound suggestion
to storm Dorchester
Heights. However, during
the fateful June 17, 1775,
attack on Bunker Hill,
Clinton performed excep-
tionally useful service.
Disregarding strict in-
structions not to expose himself, he person-
ally led the final assault upon the American
barricades that won the battle. Consequently,
Clinton was promoted to acting lieutenant
general and made second in command after
Howe when Gage was recalled that October.
Unfortunately, the two men differed com-
pletely in temperament and strategic vision,
working poorly together over the next three
years.
Howe disliked Clinton so intensely that he
dispatched him on an amphibious attack
against Charleston, South Carolina, just to
be rid of him. Clinton sailed in company with
a fleet commanded by Adm. Sir Peter
Parkerand arrived at their destination on
June 28, 1776. Clinton tried landing his men
on an island to await the outcome of a duel
between the British fleet and American de-
fenders on Sullivan’s Island. However, the
garrison’s fire proved so heavy, and the ships
suffered so much damage, that the expedi-
tion was called off and withdrew to New
York. Clinton was discouraged by events
thus far and returned to England determined
to tender his resignation,
but the government con-
vinced him to remain. He
then rejoined Howe in
time to engage the main
American army under
Gen. George Washington
at the August 27, 1776,
Battle of Long Island.
There Clinton conceived
and expertly executed a
turning movement that
outflanked Gen. Israel
Putnam and sent the
Americans scampering
back in defeat.
After helping to drive
Washington out of New
York and across New Jer-
sey, Clinton then clashed
with Howe over what
strategy to pursue next.
The former wanted to
keep the destruction of Washington’s army
the main priority, whereas the latter sought to
occupy as much territory as possible. Then
Howe, determined to rid himself of his annoy-
ing subordinate, dispatched him on another
amphibious expedition against Newport,
Rhode Island. Clinton effectively captured
this objective with a complicated and smooth
operation in December 1776. But as he feared,
Washington rallied his scattered forces and
beat the British in two sharp engagements at
Trenton and Princeton that same month. Dis-
gusted by Howe’s leadership, Clinton again
ventured to England and threatened to resign,
but Lord George Germain, suffering from a
shortage of experienced senior officers, pre-
vailed upon him to remain. As an additional
sop, he arranged for Clinton to be knighted
and advanced in rank to full lieutenant gen-
eral.
Sir Henry Clinton arrived back at New York
City in the summer of 1777, fully anticipating
a major role in the upcoming campaign. Much
to his chagrin, he was instructed to remain on
the defensive while Howe led the bulk of theCLINTON, HENRY
Henry Clinton
R. W. Norton Art Gallery, Shreveport, Louisiana