north_america charles military officer served british_army american war independence best known surrendering army siege act ended major hostilities north_america led directly peace negotiations eventual end war born aristocratic family history public service politically opposed war agreed serve clear britain require significant military presence arriving participated island joining main army general played notable role partially successful new_york new_jersey campaign george_washington successfully battle creek inflicted decisive defeat troops left rear battle princeton involved philadelphia campaign leading wing howe army leading figures british southern strategy gain control southern colonies role successfully led troops gained measure control influence south_carolina heading north_carolina despite successes like victory battle reputation wings army decisively defeated kings mountain victory north_carolina moved battered army wilmington rest resupply wilmington subject contemporary historical debate led army virginia joined british troops raiding economic military targets colony opposed smaller continental_army eventually ordered establish defended port general poor communications british establishment french naval superiority chesapeake_bay caused possibility reinforcement surrendered weeks siege october released parole returned england december year general clinton engaged highly public exchange campaign sought blame failure background charles military officer born aristocratic family family distinguished record public military service exception eager action served british_army europe seven years war rising rank lieutenant colonel years served accession title earl house_of_lords politically aligned sympathetic complaints british colonists north_america voting stamp act repealed following year voters parliament continued claim authority colonies given following years continued argue politically support colonists tensions rose parliament north ministry rose power adopted active voice politics avoided seeking political appointments married daughter regimental colonel children boy girl died accounts happy devoted couple american war independence opening skirmishes war took place near boston politics aside sought active service despite opposition king colonial policy retained king favour rapidly promoted september promoted major general november offered serve north_america proposed expedition southern colonies number officers senior rank meant unlikely independent command appreciated king lord secretary state colonies january given rank lieutenant general north_america orders lord accompany convoy troops ireland north_america join north_carolina general bringing troops boston operations southern colonies clinton arrived earl logistics delayed convoy departure bad weather slowed progress atlantic expected good relations clinton mutual friend reported happy think shall serve old friend man good opinion forces shifted south participated siege charleston june landed clinton troops long_island unable cross deep channel separating island sullivan island principal colonial defenses located colonists brought artillery oppose attempted crossing landing failure naval new_york campaign failure south_carolina clinton transported troops north serve campaign new_york_city battle long island led reserve division took successful flanking american position role following weeks minor command directly involved battles drove george_washington hudson_river new_jersey fall troops sealed escape routes general howe gave chance independent command assigning capture fort lee river americans occupying fortification led later face south barely escape prizes seizure fort included tents guns military supplies washington ended withdrawing way pennsylvania pursuit force reached new_brunswick troops exhausted chase orders howe criticized clinton orders later campaigns observed howe orders believed pursuit gained material advantage british howe joined december led pursuit delaware van orders december howe recognized successful close campaign honor officers soldiers command princeton new_york_city campaign subsequent occupation new_jersey british army applied leave return home preparing sail new_york orders arrived leave washington successful surprise attack morning december demanded response howe ordered new_jersey deal washington rode new_jersey new year day gathered scattered british german garrisons princeton army came leaving men posts princeton advanced remaining main road early january washington established strong position south rejected advice colonel proposed column approach turn washington right flank running series skirmishes designed delay british march finally reached came washington position sunset battle followed forces attempts cross bridges ford creek successfully repulsed attempt nighttime assault unknown terrain washington position ordered troops camp noting bag fox morning night washington forces slipped successfully attacked british outpost princeton continental_army large washington use deception including maintenance presence small detachment troops camp sounds night neglected send sufficient patrols monitor washington activities disappearance washington army discovered morning immediately gave chase troops began arrive hours princeton troops surrendered washington forces tired night march battle moved north returned new_brunswick large base left garrisoned single regiment included british remained new_jersey winter ongoing series skirmishes kept german british forces command constantly edge persistent attacks regiment 33rd prompted plan significant attack early spring surprised garrison bound brook april nearly capturing lincoln june general howe ordered movement force new_jersey apparently attempt draw washington battle strong position failed nearly cut portion washington army june battle engagements long term impact howe withdrew forces naval transports expedition capture philadelphia philadelphia campaign general howe hoped capturing philadelphia rebel capital end war stroke given command army light infantry campaign got underway army disembarked head maryland august advance units division involved september army began march northward battle september howe led flanking movement ultimately forced americans position played important role battle october bringing reinforcements late battle howe sought gain control approaches philadelphia sent new_jersey november secure failed assault americans abandoned fort column approached general howe sent probe washington position white marsh december movements resulted series inconclusive skirmishes army entered winter quarters philadelphia took long delayed leave sailing england december addition spending months devoted wife informed government affairs colonies visited families colleagues sailed england april arrived philadelphia early june crossing pleasant absence control british forces passed resignation consequence second command north_america surrender army entry france war british decided withdraw philadelphia concentrate defenses new_york french threat commanded rearguard overland march philadelphia new_york_city played important role june surprise attack british rearguard launched counter attack checked american advance led elite units entrenched continental_army position refused forced withdraw heavy casualties clinton commended performance eventually came blame earl failing win day returning new_york applied clinton leave return england wife ill clinton believing positioned influence political leadership gain additional troops war effort granted leave returned england december spent time pleading clinton case wife illness distracted finding weak state stayed died february devastated loss reporting death destroyed hopes happiness world eventually decided return service april letter clinton offered serve southern colonies west_indies south_carolina returned america july play central role lead commander british southern strategy end clinton transported large force south initiated second siege charleston spring resulted surrender continental forces clinton worked closely siege relationship deteriorated cracks formed early october reported critical comments clinton howe conduct clinton believe reason trips england scheme independent command second command held dormant commission replace clinton commander chief aware clinton wanted resign want difficult command situation occur consequently avoided advising clinton possible order avoid responsibility poor outcomes deterioration relationship set stage communication difficulties resulted eventual surrender late april clinton detached force ensure enemy communications supplies interrupted city missed siege bombardment surrender forces directed led completed charleston americans corner ferry american surrender clinton ordered secure south_carolina interior clinton organized control charleston long defeated virginia regiments clinton returned new_york leaving command south task clinton left foremost preserve gains taking charleston engage offensive moves clinton orders gave wide latitude achieve goal south north_carolina clinton expected virginia clinton wrote wish assist operations certainly carried soon relieve superior fleet season admit clinton provided relatively modest force british german provincial loyalist regiments men accomplish forces given accomplish limited necessity keeping large british force new_york clinton shadow washington expected recruit loyalists believed numerous southern colonies fall charleston set establishing british presence south_carolina successfully established outposts keeping communication supply lines open ongoing challenge supplies available locally like uniforms camp gear arms ammunition delivered supply ships frequent targets local weather summer rainy turning red clay roads area impassable order help provide fresh food forage troops established commissioners responsible goods confiscated patriots avoided supplies loyalists depended manpower intelligence second land confiscated chronic shortage hard currency supply delivered charleston difficult purchase supplies source patriot loyalist attempted civil authority british loyalist oversight attempts met limited success continually undermined patriot activity political military indifferent abuses british loyalist forces took form militia companies harassed loyalists small british units supply communication lines early august alerted lord commander british garrison new southern continental_army time command approaching north moved forces charleston august inflicted embarrassing defeat gates battle relatively gates army routed suffered heavy casualties served south_carolina clear continental forces blow rebel morale victory added reputation rout american rebels gates rapid departure battlefield widely noted skill london perceived hero viewed right man lead british forces victory rebels north_carolina victory prepared advance north north_carolina militia activity led continued harass troops left south_carolina detached inspector militia raise company militia hills cover left flank execution assignment raising nearly men angered colonists issuing threats lay country waste fire sword continued opposition patriot militia arose oppose recruited moved army charlotte north_carolina patriot forces left harass advance patriot militia led coalition commanders clashed kings mountain early october weeks arrived charlotte battle disaster killed nearly entire force killed captured miles charlotte range assist defeat combined failures raise loyalist militia ongoing patriot activity south_carolina prompted retreat south_carolina set winter camp attempts capture repeatedly frustrated reinforce army ordered major general stationed portsmouth virginia abandon outpost join south_carolina british camp particularly comfortable men sick living crude accommodations unlike washington men erected valley forge army suffered general lack supplies wagons horses particularly short supply earl discovered items methods horses acquired served loyalist friends seizing horses patriots loyalists alike supply lines continually harassed particularly november ordered capture commanders successfully laid eventually returned reporting force broken days later resumed guerrilla war arrival north_carolina new continental_army major general december meant army need begin campaigning general clinton dispatched brigadier general virginia threaten supply lines needed deal general detached light infantry corps cause trouble highlands south_carolina sent sizable force chase morgan brilliant battle hannah january morgan decisively defeated capturing force news battle upset earl reported snap sword wrote late affair broke heart vowed recover prisoners morgan taken immediately giving chase unable gain morgan prisoners large baggage train calculated force army able faster ordered baggage train destroyed january starting personal effects officers ordered burning minimal set supplies second command commented greatest honor lord military reputation inaugurated called race dan separated army supply bases virginia wanted catch morgan join forces reach virginia rapid series marches extremely difficult conditions tired armies morgan reunited forces flood swollen dan february decided halt pursuit having effectively driven north_carolina returned attempted raise loyalist militia resting troops general dan returned north_carolina engaged military dance sorts tried bring battle awaiting arrival troops sought avoid force constantly suffering food shortages earl ensured officers soldiers shared equally suffering unable intercept arriving reinforcements learned taken position march apparently ready battle ensuing battle day victorious significant cost army numbered men british successfully pushed americans times personal danger forced commit reserves early battle furious melee going outcome battle appearing hang balance controversial decision ordered artillery load shot fire melee included men elite brigade guards general protested said necessary evil endure arrest impending destruction final charge broke americans leaving artillery field won battle lost quarter army survivors exhausted forces reduced seemingly endless campaign moved wilmington coast resupply army intact loss crossed south_carolina course months regained control state received dispatches wilmington informing british army generals phillips arnold sent virginia finally came conclusion spite orders limited carolinas best serve british cause going virginia join army phillips arnold writing campaign explained feel effectively support lord left command south_carolina unable gain control north_carolina virginia received instructions clinton time wrote general letter specifically requesting direction anxious receive commands totally dark intended operations summer help expressing wishes seat war north_carolina difficult provinces attack wrote lord arguing case operations virginia virginia campaign marched wilmington april sending orders phillips meet virginia arrival learned phillips old friend died week earlier fever arrival fresh troops new_york army came command numbered opposed continental_army contingent currently richmond command force numbered thirds militia expecting reinforced soon additional continental_army troops pennsylvania led brigadier general chasing absence instructions clinton sought execute orders clinton given phillips establish naval station engage raids economic military targets include organized scheme offense sending general arnold complained new_york set pursuit sent letter clinton outlining preference portsmouth site naval station aware strong oppose fell rapidly supply base reached house stopped chase instead detached separate raiding expeditions sent raid virginia legislature meeting sent point fork supply depot expeditions qualified successes nearly captured virginia governor home managed destroy significant supplies despite outnumbered force raids went wayne joined forces reinforced arrival experienced militia days later began slowly east practically ignoring periodically detached foraging raiding expeditions went main army reached june reinforcements followed earl began sending detachments light troops bring british army battle learning foraging main army sent men track rejoin forces clashed june far escorted reinforcements cover retreat confusing orders received letters clinton clinton upset moved virginia ordered establish suitable fortified point ordered return troops spare new_york request written mid june reflected concern movements french army newport rhode_island white plains new_york intelligence general washington considering attack new_york_city found inadequate informed clinton portsmouth embark troops clinton use assess portsmouth suitable location naval station accordingly began moving army portsmouth necessitated crossing wide earl realized opportunity attack decided lay trap come conclusion noticed heading ferry advance force led general wayne walked trap escaped suffering casualties july received orders clinton directing troops planning embark potential operation philadelphia arrival suffolk received dispatches clinton including received decided proceed troops philadelphia july troops boarded transports fresh orders arrived philadelphia expedition ordered possible recall embarked troops instead establishing fortified naval station liberty troops purpose proved decision clinton need build protect new anchorage robbed freedom manoeuvre unfortunate pointed superior open bays rivers meant base exposed sudden french attack portsmouth options chose best choices station august disembarked army began area trapped fortified forces west_indies allied camp outside new_york preparing converge position arrival french fleet end august arrival combined french american army late september trapped royal_navy fleet admiral defeated french september battle french siege train arrived newport position september general clinton wrote letter telling expect reinforcements received september letter instrumental decision remain try fight way despite urging break comparatively weak british military leadership new_york held council september agreed reinforced regained control describes decision council leaving wind day earlier wrote desperate plea help opinion service coming directly place letter 17th added relieve soon prepare hear worst siege formally got underway september despite late attempt escape siege lines closed positions allied cannons wrought havoc british camps october opened negotiations surrender day british fleet sailed new_york carrying troops outnumbered french fleet eventually turned french naval officer noting british fleet departure october wrote late eaten apparently wanting face washington claimed ill october day surrender sent brigadier general place formally surrender sword washington second command accept sword aftermath returned britain general arnold landed england january representative released tower london exchange promise effect release parole unsuccessful formally freed preliminary peace agreed tactics america especially southern campaign frequent subject criticism political enemies london especially general clinton sought blame failures dispute clinton particularly public men published works critical correspondence public result retained confidence king british government later career august attended manoeuvres prussia duke york encountered virginia opponent appointed commander chief governor presidency known presidency served posts distinction administrative reforms british changes judicial civil revenue administration company territories significant long term consequences returned england worn difficult military campaigns anglo war led major british defeat holding administrative posts london june irish rebellion broke addition remnants rebellion instrumental convincing pass act union critical step uniting british irish crowns creating ireland resigned posts ireland king george refused support catholic emancipation king sent peace agreement napoleon signed treaty march behalf united_kingdom appointed india died long arrival october buried place died
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