New York, independent state of
Years: 1776 - 1788
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The Fourth Provincial Congress convenes in White Plains on July 9, 1776, and will becomes known as the New York First Constitutional Convention.
New York endorses the Declaration of Independence the same day, and declares the independent state of New York.
Washington reads the Declaration of Independence to his men and the citizens of New York on July 9, invigorating the crowd to topple down a lead equestrian statue of the King in Bowling Green, melting it to make bullets.
Historical records indicate the statue depicted King George III in ancient Roman garb based on the Renaissance sculpture of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.
The Howe brothers have been granted authority as peace commissioners by Parliament, with limited powers to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict
King George III is not optimistic about the possibility of a peace, "yet I think it right to be attempted, whilst every act of vigour is unremittingly carried on".
Their powers are limited to granting of "general and special pardons" and to "confer with any of his Majesty's subjects".
On July 14, pursuant to these powers, Admiral Howe had sent a messenger with a letter addressed to "George Washington, Esq." across the harbor.
Washington's adjutant, Joseph Reed, had politely informed the messenger that no person with this title is in their army.
Admiral Howe's aide writes that "the Punctilio of an Address" should not have prevented the letter's delivery, and Howe is said to be visibly annoyed by the rejection.
A second request, addressed to "George Washington, Esq., etc." is similarly rejected, although the messenger is told that Washington will receive one of Howe's adjutants.
In this fruitless meeting, held July 20, Washington points out that the limited powers the Howe brothers had been given are not of much use, as the rebels have done no wrong requiring an amnesty.
In the Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776, the British outflank the American positions, driving the Americans back to their Brooklyn Heights fortifications.
General Howe now begins to lay siege to the works, but Washington skillfully manages a nighttime retreat through his unguarded rear across the East River to Manhattan Island.
Howe now pauses to consolidate his position and consider his next move.
To keep his escape routes open to the north, he places five thousand troops in the city (which at this time only occupies the lower portion of Manhattan), and takes the rest of the army to Harlem Heights.
In the first recorded use of a submarine in warfare, he also attempts a novel attack on the Royal Navy, launching the Turtle in a failed attempt to sink the HMS Eagle, Admiral Howe's flagship.
The British had captured General John Sullivan during the battle.
Admiral Howe had persuaded him to deliver a message to Congress in Philadelphia, and released him on parole.
Washington also had given his permission, and on September 2 Sullivan had told the Congress that the Howes want to negotiate, and have been given much broader powers to treat than those they actually hold.
This creates a diplomatic problem for Congress, which does not want to be seen as aggressive, as some representatives feel a direct rejection of the appeal would appear.
As a consequence, Congress had agreed to send a committee to meet with the Howes in a move they did not believe would bear any fruit.
On September 11, the Howe brothers meet with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Edward Rutledge in the Staten Island Peace Conference.
It has exactly the outcome the Americans had expected.
The Americans withdraw to ...