As it was, Howe occupied the left bank of the Delaware with his chief post at Trenton.

If he made sure of New Jersey he could go on to Philadelphia when the river was frozen over or indeed when he liked.
Even the Congress had fled to Baltimore.

There were British successes in other quarters.

Early in December Lord Howe took the fleet to Newport.
Soon he controlled the whole of Rhode Island and checked the American privateers who had made it their base.

The brothers issued proclamations offering protection to all who should within sixty days return to their British allegiance and many people of high standing in New York and New Jersey accepted the offer.