This is CBS I in the World. I'm John Bachelbert, Professor Benjamin Carp of Brooklyn College

of CUNY Graduate Center, Professor of History. His new book, The Great New York Fire of

1776, a lost story of the American Revolution. We're building the details before the fire

because the decision for everyone to make is, was it on purpose. The Battle of Long Island

is late August of 1776. Washington's forces are badly outflanked and put to flight. It's

a miracle of the wind that Washington is able to leave Long Island without being captured

with his soldiers and escaped to Manhattan. And so, Professor, we come now to late August

early September, Washington's army in New York City and knowing the British have an enormous

force that is going to start landing soon enough. The House, however, are not looking to

punish the rebels. It's important here to emphasize the how-brothers had another understanding

of how to solve a rebellion. Why did they hesitate? Why didn't they destroy the army

immediately? What did they think could happen?

Well, historians disagree about this, but I think the consensus is beginning to develop

that William Howe at least had witnessed the Battle of Bunker Hill. He never knew what

kind of force he was going to face on the other side of a hill. He didn't necessarily

want to commit a bunch of his forces in a way that would lead to a mass casualty event,

because he is not going to be able to request unlimited amounts of troops from back home.

And so, he tried to be cautious with his army. He definitely wanted to win a decisive victory

against Washington and destroy Washington's army in order to undermine the rebellion,

but he also was cautious and not necessarily willing to do something that he thought might

need to massive amounts of casualties.

And they were offering pardons. If my memory is they offered a pardon to anyone who gave

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