On July 4, 1776 this head of the army was in New York preparing for a British attack
[DOC] [TLE] Philadelphia Reflections: The British Attack Philadelphia [PAR] But to do this the British army had to abandon their navy and supplies for eleven 
... By the fall of 1776 Howe had consolidated his hold on New York, and ... 
Washington thought that meant he was going to head for Trenton, and then down 
the Delaware to Philadelphia.