General Washington's troops had miraculously escaped New York in the middle of the night and were now camped in New York City. On September 11, 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Edward Rutledge met with General Howe and his brother, Admiral Howe, but the meeting did not bring any peace.

The Continental retreat from Long Island gave the British control of all Manhattan Island and the Patriots knew it was just a matter of time before the British would attack New York City.

On September 15, 1776, just four days after he met with representatives from the Continental Congress, General Howe and his men crossed the East River in special boats designed for assault and took the city of New York from the Continentals.

There really wasn't any battle. The Patriots fled to the northern part of Manhattan called Harlem Heights. General Howe, Clinton and Cornwallis moved into the Murray house where General Washington had been staying.

Again it would be just a matter of time before the British chased the Patriots from Harlem Heights.