Generals sometimes do foolish things but it is not easy to call up a picture of Howe, in the midst of a busy movement of troops, receiving the lady's invitation, accepting it, and ordering the whole army to halt while he lingered over the luncheon table.

There is no doubt that his mind was still divided between making war and making peace.

Probably Putnam had already got away his men, and there was no purpose in stopping the refugees in that flight from New York which so aroused the pity of Washington.

As it was Howe took sixty-seven guns.
By accident, or, it is said, by design of the Americans themselves, New York soon took fire and one-third of the little city was burned.
After the fall of New York there followed a complex campaign.

The resourceful Washington was now, during his first days of active warfare, pitting himself against one of the most experienced of British generals.
Fleet and army were acting together.