After regrouping at Halifax in Nova Scotia,Fischer, D. 2004, pp. 78–76 Howe set sail for New York in June 1776 and began landing troops on Staten Island near the entrance to New York Harbor on July 2. The Americans rejected Howe's informal attempt to negotiate peace on July 30;Ketchum 2014 [1973], p. 104 Washington knew that an attack on the city was imminent and realized that he needed advance information to deal with disciplined British regular troops.
After regrouping at Halifax in Nova Scotia,Fischer, D. 2004, pp. 78–76 Howe set sail for New York in June 1776 and began landing troops on Staten Island near the entrance to New York Harbor on July 2 The Americans rejected Howe's informal attempt to negotiate peace on July 30;Ketchum 2014 [1973], p. 104 Washington knew that an attack on the city was imminent and realized that he needed advance information to deal with disciplined British regular troops.