This is CBS Eye on the World.

Here's John Batchler.

New York City 1776.

It is Springtime, the arrival of a man who was not successful in Boston and is looking

to be more successful in New York.

His name, George Washington.

Professor Ben introduces the drama that is in a new book, The Great New York Fire of

1776, A Lost Story of the American Revolution by Professor Benjamin L. Carp, Professor

of History at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center.

Professor a very good evening to you.

Congratulations.

As George Washington arrives, he had sent one of his trusted generals, General Lee

there beforehand, but now he comes into New York City, looking to establish an anchor

for the rebel cause, the Continental Army.

His army is chiefly made up, almost entirely made up at this time, of men from New England.

What is the city that George Washington finds in the spring of 1776?

Good evening to you, Professor.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Well, Washington, what Washington finds is a city that had been diverse and mixed for

almost the entire history of European settlement.

He finds a city that had been politically divided, some people favoring independence and others

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