He had come within a chin whisker of losing the war on several occasions, demonstrating both misjudgment, notably during the defense of Fort Washington, and battlefield shortcomings, such as his failure to read the terrain or enemy intent on Long Island. His lieutenants had saved him from himself more than once, as when they resisted his proposal to launch a frontal assault at Boston. Such misjudgments and shortcomings would persist in coming campaigns. Yet
