It is little wonder that in this spring of 1777 he feared that his army might suddenly dissolve and leave him without a command.

In that case he would not have yielded.

Rather, so stern and bitter was he against England, would he have plunged into the western wilderness to be lost in its vast spaces.
Howe had his own perplexities.

He knew that a great expedition under Burgoyne was to advance from Canada southward to the Hudson.

Was he to remain with his whole force at New York until the time should come to push up the river to meet Burgoyne?
He had a copy of the instructions given in England to Burgoyne by Lord George Germain, but he was himself without orders.