The Night the Yankees Burned Broadway: The New York City Fire of 1776

摘要: A significant fraction of New York City burned in the early morning hours September 21, 1776, six days after British army had occupied city during Revolutionary War. This paper examines evidence to determine cause fire, and argues that Patriots were responsible. Loyalists military men almost unanimous their conviction American rebels torched on way out, but insisted fire been an accident. Before General Nathanael Greene argued destroying was strategically essential, Continental Congress unwilling risk new nation's reputation, ordered George Washington leave intact. Since war, historians have accepted these denials (and subsequent Patriot propaganda) avoided attributing spies or civilian sympathizers. Rather than admit burning towns, concealed actions contemporaries for posterity.