Note 446 — Chapter II

Sparks's Washington, iii. 113. Gage had, as early as July 14, 1775, pronounced Boston a "disadvantageous place for all operations", and expressed a preference for New York as a base of operations. The government had advised (Sept. 5, 1775) Howe to abandon the town. Before Howe, perhaps, got this, Gage wrote to Dartmouth that "the possession of Boston occasions a considerable diversion of the enemy's force; but it is open to attacks on many sides, and requires a large body to defend it." In November Howe had made up his mind that he must winter, at least, in Boston. (Mass. Hist. Soc. Proc., xiv. 353, 354, 356.) The Secretary of War, as early as Nov. 12, 1774, had urged that Boston was a place where the royal troops could do little good, and might do much harm. (Life of Barrington, 140.)