CAPTURE OF NEW YORK. The Universal Magazine (London, England) dated Nov, 1776. Four 4 pages of detailed news of the capture of New York City by the British during the American Revolution. Three long letters signed in type by British General William Howe details the Battle of Harlem Heights, the retreat of General George Washington and his army from NY and the British taking of New York City. Very important Revolutionary War news report. The Universal magazine was not bound with a title page, and the map of New York is not present in this magazine. (H.87)$250.

To protect New York City and the lower Hudson valley from the British forces massed on Staten Island, on Aug. 27, 1776 George Washington sent part of his small army to defend Brooklyn Heights, on Long Island. After several unsuccessful peace overtures, Sir William Howe landed at Gravesend while the British fleet under his brother, Richard Howe, shelled New York. After Sir William's troops defeated an American force under John Sullivan and William Alexander (Lord Stirling), Israel Putnam, the corps commander, prepared for the main attack. Sir William, not wanting another Bunker Hill, decided to lay siege instead of storming Brooklyn Heights. Washington saw the position was hopeless and evacuated (night of Aug. 29-30) his army back to Manhattan. Shortly afterward, the Americans began the retreat northward in which delaying actions were fought at Harlem Heights, White Plains, and Fort Washington. Washington managed to extricate most of his troops, and he regrouped them before striking at Trenton.
Also included are three pages of detailed reports regarding the actions of the naval fleet on Lake Champlain (a letter signed in type by Guy Carleton , a letter from Capt Douglas and a letter by Captain Pringle “ upon the 11th I came up with the Rebel Fleet commanded by Benedict Arnold. regarding the actions of the naval fleet on Lake Champlain.
In the spring of 1776 the British had a force of 10,000 men in place with plans to divide the American Colonies in half by taking control of Lake Champlain and driving down the Hudson River Valley thus splitting the colonies. Though the summer of 1776 American forces frantically raced to build a Naval fleet for the lake. On October 11, 1776 a squadron on fifteen hastily built American warships commanded by Benedict Arnold engaged a superior British fleet. The resulting cannon battle lasted for 5 hours with the American force loosing 2 boats, ten percent of their man power and being blockaded by the British. This battle was known as "The Battle of Valcour Island".. Desperate, Arnold and his officers planned a daring night time retreat past the British blockade. Under the cover of darkness with oars silenced by greased rags, Arnold's fleet of gun boats slipped past the British fleet. Arnold continued to fight on for three more days before retreating to Fort Ticonderoga.