Even while the British fleet still hung about the harbor he began to send troops to New York to make ready for the next attack.

He entered Boston in order to see that every precaution was taken against the spread of the smallpox, and then prepared to depart himself.

Two ideas, during his first winter of conflict, had taken possession of his mind, and undoubtedly influenced profoundly his future course.

One was the conviction that the struggle must be fought out to the bitter end, and must bring either subjugation or complete independence.

He wrote in February: "With respect to myself, I have never entertained an idea of an accommodation, since I heard of the measures which were adopted in consequence of the Bunker's Hill fight;" and at an earlier date he said: "I hope my countrymen (of Virginia) will rise superior to any losses the whole navy of Great Britain can bring on them, and that the destruction of Norfolk and threatened devastation of other places will have no other effect than to unite the whole country in one indissoluble band against a nation which seems to be lost to every sense of virtue and those feelings which distinguish a civilized people from the most barbarous savages." With such thoughts he sought to make Congress appreciate the probable long duration of the struggle, and he bent every energy to giving permanency to his army, and decisiveness to each campaign.