DEFENDING NEW YORK, 1776 A fine content manuscript document, 1p., oblong 8vo., New York, Mar. 18, 1776, entitled "An Account of Intrenching tools received of Andrew Breasted & delivered to the Following Captains this day upon duty" being a detailed account of various tools delivered and returned for the purposes of constructing defenses around New York City. Even as the British were evacuating Boston in March 1776, Washington already believed that the British would seek to capture New York. On March 27, Washington ordered a brigade under James Sullivan to reinforce the city. From March until August, 1776 New York would be a beehive of activity, as the Washington moved his main army to the area in an attempt to defend the city. Entrenchments were constructed throughout Manhattan and northern Brooklyn in order to stave off the anticipated attack. This account records the names of captains on the day's fatigue duty together with the tools they took for the day's work including "Pick Axes", "Shod Shovels", "Spaides", "Iron Shovels", "Axes", and "Crow Barr". Captains listed include John Warner, Abraham Van Deursen, George Janua, Stephen Steel and others. These troops would soon be joined by thousands of others. In the end the defenses proved mostly useless against the sheer power of a combined British land and sea force of over 35,000 men. In the end they could only delay the inevitable and by November, 1776 Washington was in full retreat across New Jersey and the British controlled the most valuable harbor in the colonies. Usual folds, a few minor soiled spots, else fine condition. $500-700