Two Councils Summary and Analysis

That night after the battle for the bridge, Cornwallis ordered his men outside to keep tabs on the Americans. Their objective was to watch the enemy and to keep American patrols from discovering the positions of British and Hessian units. Cornwallis attempted an attack on the American front, but the Americans knew what he was up to. Washington was sure to defend his troops and ward off their attackers. They were outnumbered five to one by Cornwallis' regiments.

While those preparations were going on, Cornwallis and Washington met with their respective councils of war. Each took a very different approach to decision making. Cornwallis had a large army and a smaller council. Washington had a smaller army and a larger council. While Washington's meeting was a council, Cornwallis' was more of a court. In his council, Cornwallis was a...