Reflection#4-”1776"-(Pg.181–240)

In this section of “1776" McCullough finishes describing the battle of Brooklyn and General Washington’s decision of the withdrawal of colonial militia from New York island. The overall feeling I receive from this section is one of defeat and anguish. The Colonists spirits are broken after the defeat in New York and General Washington is just exhausted with the whole ordeal. McCullough’s descriptions of the settings are very detailed and greatly create the negative atmosphere.

Even though the colonists seem to be entering a losing streak in this section it is much worth noting that they have had a near absurd amount of luck. For instance when crossing the east river in the evacuation of Long Island the colonists were taking too long and the cover of night was quickly fading. But “just at daybreak a heavy fog settled in over the whole of Brooklyn, concealing everything no less than had the night”(191). Then again after the British moved into New York island after the colonists retreat an incredibly destructive fire broke out and destroyed nearly five hundred homes and businesses, “approximately a quarter of the city”(222). This was incredibly lucky once again for General George Washington as prior to the retreat he was seriously contemplating the idea of burning down New York so the British cannot be housed there during the oncoming winter. He did not because congress advised against it but the British did it to themselves anyways. All this can be summed up, as McCullough describes it, as “fate, luck, providence, the hand of God”(191).

General Washington is absolutely disgusted and humiliated with the conduct of his soldiers and the situation at hand, and McCullough does a great job of creating the impact of the situation. General Washington who is constantly noted throughout “1776” for his “calm and self commanding character” lost control when he saw his troops fleeing from the enemy in panic, accounts vary but it is believed he himself “in a fury, he plunged his horse in among them,[the colonists] trying to stop them”(212). This outburst is entirely out of character for Washington and McCullough adds it to show how dissatisfied and aggravated he is with his soldiers and even the Patriot cause.

The Colonial army's patriot spirit is also in obvious decline. The soldiers are described to be leaving in droves. The once mighty colonial army rumored to have been between forty thousand and seven thousand soldiers before the British invasion has now been diminished to about twelve thousand or fourteen thousand. And the soldiers are weary of the defeats and retreats. But though things look bleak Congress is in the process of creating a formal colonial army, which does create a little hope on the horizon in my opinion.