White Plains, New York. November 5 to 10, 1776.
November 5. Morning. The British camps in front of the Continental Army were empty.
Washington told Congress the next day that the enemy "broke up their whole Encampments the preceding night, and have advanced towards King's bridge and the North river."
Eight days after White Plains, Howe marched away.
Where to? Washington put his guess in the same letter. "I think it highly probable and almost certain, that he will make a descent with a part of his Troops into Jersey."
November 6. Council of war. The minutes put the first question to the generals: "Supposing the Enemy now to be retreating towards New York will it not be proper to throw a Body of Troops into the Jerseys immediately. Unanimously Agreed in the Affirmative." For the Highlands, up the river: "Agreed upon 3000."
The army was coming apart. On purpose.
One condition. Howe had to be retreating for real. Washington waited two days to be sure, then started moving men on November 8.
They crossed at King's Ferry. Stirling's brigade went first. He wrote from the west bank on November 10 that the rest of his men "arrived in the Night and are now landing."
The same day Washington wrote out Charles Lee's instructions for the troops staying behind. One line in them: "the Massachusets Militia stand released from their contract the 17th of this Instt." Seven days. December wasn't the only clock running.
Then he left White Plains himself. From Peekskill the next day: "I left White Plains about 11 OClock Yesterday all peace then." He meant to cross into New Jersey the day after.
He hadn't crossed yet.
Where's Monroe? Not on any page this week.
November 5, 1776. 56 days to December 31.
One more line from that November 6 letter. "I expect the Enemy will bend their force against Fort Washington and invest It immediately." He wrote it ten days before it happened. Next Thursday: November 16.
