The Battle for New York

General Howe and his brother plus 34,000 British and German troops went off to New York. The British sailed on June 10, 1776, from Halifax to New York and on July 5 encamped on Staten Island. The congress had proclaimed the independence of the colonies, at first Howe was empowered to negotiate peace terms but had discovered that they were authorized only to accept submission and assure pardons. There peace efforts were getting them no were and so eventually Howe turned to force.