Fort Washington, lying just south of the Harlem, was the only point still held on Manhattan Island by the Americans.

In modern war it has become clear that fortresses supposedly strong may be only traps for their defenders.

Fort Washington stood on the east bank of the Hudson opposite Fort Lee, on the west bank.

These forts could not fulfil the purpose for which they were intended, of stopping British ships.
Washington saw that the two forts should be abandoned.

But the civilians in Congress, who, it must be remembered, named the generals and had final authority in directing the war, were reluctant to accept the loss involved in abandoning the forts and gave orders that every effort should be made to hold them.