Boston was not a good naval base for the British, since it commanded no great waterway leading inland.

The sprawling colonies, from the rock-bound coast of New England to the swamps and forests of Georgia, were strong in their incoherent vastness.

There were a thousand miles of seacoast.

Only rarely were considerable settlements to be found more than a hundred miles distant from salt water.

An army marching to the interior would have increasing difficulties from transport and supplies.