You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast. Hello and thank you for joining the American Revolution.

Today episode 104, submarine warfare.

At the end of August 1776, Washington's army had escaped Brooklyn almost by miracle

and gotten back to Manhattan, leaving the British in control of all of Long Island.

Washington's devastated army was in chaos.

Morale was low and desertions were going through the roof.

It's as if soldiers did not want to be stuck in New York City

when the British made their next offensive.

Most expected how would land soldiers north of the city and trap Washington's army on the southern tip of Manhattan

with a British army to the north and the British Navy controlling the harbor to the south and the rivers to the east and west.

With the cannons of the British Navy, Hao's Army could easily have crossed

anywhere along the East River and attack the Patriots.

The British had over 400 ships in and around New York, including quite a few large men of war.

Given the deep water all around Manhattan, they could bring artillery fire or land soldiers and Marines

anywhere they wanted at any time.

Rather than attack, though, General Howe took another pause and once again tried to pursue diplomacy.

During this pause Washington had time to shore up his defenses on Manhattan Island,

but no matter how much time he had, he faced the reality that the

British controlled the Hudson River, sometimes called the North River at this time, as well

as the East River and all of New York Harbor.

That really made any defense of the city impossible.

The British Navy had already proven that the Continental forts defending the rivers were useless.

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