Feints and misread signals determined the American defeat’s opening

Evidence

Well before dawn, the British began probing defenses at Gowanus Road on the Americans’ right, which led aides to awaken Putnam at Brooklyn Heights and Washington in New York. Both men initially saw this action as the beginning of the main British assault rather than a feint. Putnam directed Stirling to move troops forward to repulse the enemy, little knowing that the British there had no orders to advance yet and possessed more than enough force to do so at will. Soon, the Hessians began a cannonade aimed at Battle Pass, but when they did not advance, Sullivan too thought the main action was at Gowanus Road and sent some of his soldiers there. After dawn, when Washington saw British warships attempt to enter the East River (rather than the Hudson River), he realized that Long Island (not York Island) would be the center of the day’s action and sent more troops there. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 242

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Failure to hold the passes on Long Island caused the American defeat — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 244

Broader Connections

• Failure to hold the passes on Long Island caused the American defeat #qualifies (0.85) — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 244