ɔːlðˈoʊ ðə sˈiːdʒ ʌv jˈɔːɹktaʊn hæd ˈɛndᵻd mˈoʊst hɑːstˈɪlᵻɾiz ðə jˈɪɹ bᵻfˈoːɹ, ðə bɹˈɪɾɪʃ stˈɪl ˈɑːkjʊpˌaɪd nˈuː jˈɔːɹk sˈɪɾi ænd ˈʌðɚ pˈoːɹts, ænd dʒˈɔːɹdʒ wˈɑːʃɪŋtən bᵻlˈiːvd ðæt ðɛɹwˌʌz stˈɪl stɹˈɔŋ sˈɛntɪmənt ɪn bɹˈɪtən fɔːɹ ɹᵻstˈɑːɹɾɪŋ ðə wˈɔːɹ ænd tˈeɪkɪŋ ðə kˈɑːləniz bˈæk.
Although the Siege of Yorktown had ended most hostilities the year before, the British still occupied New York City and other ports, and George Washington believed that there was still strong sentiment in Britain for restarting the war and taking the colonies back.