TRENTON AND VALLEY FORGE Howe's retreat from Boston freed Massachusetts and, indeed, all New England from British troops.

It also gave Washington the clue to his own next move.

He was a real soldier and therefore his instinct told him that his next objective must be the enemy's army.

Accordingly he prepared to move his own troops to New York.

He passed through Providence, Norwich, and New London, reaching New York on April 13th.
Congress was then sitting in Philadelphia and he was requested to visit it.
He spent a fortnight during May in Philadelphia where he had conferences with men of all kinds and seems to have been particularly impressed, not to say shocked, by the lack of harmony which he discovered.