This vital defect had been in some degree remedied, in new modelling the army before Boston; but it still existed to a fatal extent.
{September 15.} Having taken possession of New York, General Howe stationed a few troops in the town; and, with the main body of his army, encamped on the island near the American lines.

His right was at Horen's Hook on the East river, and his left reached the North river near Bloomingdale; so that his encampment extended quite across the island, which is, in this place, scarcely two miles wide; and both his flanks were covered by his ships.
The strongest point of the American lines was at Kingsbridge, both sides of which had been carefully fortified.

M'Gowan's Pass, and Morris's Heights were also occupied in considerable force, and rendered capable of being defended against superior numbers.

A strong detachment was posted in an intrenched camp on the heights of Haerlem, within about a mile and a half of the British lines.
The present position of the armies favoured the views of the American General.

He wished to habituate his soldiers, by a series of successful skirmishes, to meet the enemy in the field; and he persuaded himself that his detachments, knowing a strong intrenched camp to be immediately in their rear, would engage without apprehension, would soon display their native courage, and would speedily regain the confidence they had lost.
Opportunities to make the experiments he wished were soon afforded.
The day after the retreat from New York, the British appeared in considerable force in the plains between the two camps; and the General immediately rode to his advanced posts, in order to make in person such arrangements as this movement might require.