<P> Fort Defiance was also being constructed at this time, located farther southwest, past Fort Box, near present - day Red Hook . In addition to these new forts, a mounted battery was established on Governors Island, cannons were placed at Fort George facing Bowling Green, and more cannons placed at the Whitehall Dock, which sat on the East River . Hulks were sunk at strategic locations to deter the British from entering the East River and other waterways . </P> <P> Washington had been authorized by Congress to recruit an army of up to 28,501 troops, but he had only 19,000 when he reached New York . Military discipline was inadequate; routine orders were not carried out, muskets were fired in camp, flints were ruined, bayonets were used as knives to cut food, and firearm readiness was lax . Petty internal conflict was common under the strain of a large number of people from different environments and temperaments in relative closeness . </P> <P> Commander of the artillery Henry Knox persuaded Washington to transfer 400 to 500 soldiers, who lacked muskets or guns, to crew the artillery . In early June, Knox and Greene inspected the land at the north end of Manhattan and decided to establish Fort Washington . Fort Constitution, later renamed Fort Lee, was planned opposite Fort Washington on the Hudson River . The forts were hoped to discourage the British ships from sailing up the Hudson River . </P> <P> On June 28, Washington learned that the British fleet had set sail from Halifax on June 9 and were heading toward New York . On June 29, signals were sent from men stationed on Staten Island, indicating that the British fleet had appeared . Within a few hours, 45 British ships dropped anchor in Lower New York Bay . Less than a week later, there were 130 ships off Staten Island under the command of Richard Howe, the brother of the general . The population of New York went into panic at the sight of the British ships; alarms went off and troops immediately rushed to their posts . On July 2, British troops began to land on Staten Island . The continental regulars on the island took a few shots at them before fleeing, and the citizens' militia switched over to the British side . </P>

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