George Washington was a general.
George Washington . In that command , Washington forced the British out of Boston in 1776 but was defeated and nearly captured later that year when he lost New York City . The New York and New Jersey campaign was a series of battles for control of New York City and the state of New Jersey in the American Revolutionary War between British forces under General Sir William Howe and the Continental Army under General George Washington in 1776 and the winter months of 1777 .