54. DEFENDING NEW YORK, 1776 A fine content manuscript D.S. 1p. oblong 8vo., [New York], Mar. 23-24, 1776, an inventory of tools used to construct fortifications around the city of New York in anticipation of a British attack that would ultimately come in late August, 1776. Even as the British were evacuating Boston in March 1776, Washington already believed that they 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 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" "Saws", and "Crow Barrs". Interestingly this document not only lists the captains leading the various fatigue details, but where they were assigned. For instance on March 23, 1776 Captain Egbert's detail was to work at Burling Slip while Captain Tucker was to work at "Old Slip & Coffee House". Captain De Peyster and his men were to work on "B[road]. street]" and Captain Buchanan to work at "P[eck] Slip". 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 very good condition. $400-600