He was anxious above all for the safety of New York, commanding the vital artery of the Hudson, which must at all costs be defended.

Accordingly, in April, he took his army to New York and established there his own headquarters.
Even before Washington moved to New York, three great British expeditions were nearing America.

One of these we have already seen at Quebec.

Another was bound for Charleston, to land there an army and to make the place a rallying center for the numerous but harassed Loyalists of the South.

The third and largest of these expeditions was to strike at New York and, by a show of strength, bring the colonists to reason and reconciliation.