Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

cases used to carry belongings when traveling

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

exhale hard

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

the people of Great Britain

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

wife of President Clinton and later a woman member of the United States Senate (1947-)

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

possessive form of “clinton” — wife of President Clinton and later a woman member of the United States Senate (1947-)

From this reading On the other hand, Clinton's stores were numerous and of no little value.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

a person who shows fear or timidity

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

beaten or overcome; not victorious

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

wanted intensely

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

plural of “equipment” — an instrumentality needed for an undertaking or to perform a service

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

provided or fitted out with what is necessary or useful or appropriate

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

obtain

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading On the other hand, Clinton's stores were numerous and of no little value.

annoy continually or chronically

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

the act of retaining something

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

become part of; become a member of a group or organization

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

something that is lost

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

past form of “march” — march in a procession

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

the force of workers available

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

plural of “method” — a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

absolutely essential

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

not any; not one

From this reading On the other hand, Clinton's stores were numerous and of no little value.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

amounting to a large indefinite number

From this reading On the other hand, Clinton's stores were numerous and of no little value.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading On the other hand, Clinton's stores were numerous and of no little value.

plural of “patriot” — one who loves and defends his or her country

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

(“ill” is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

the act of having and controlling property

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

plural of “redcoat” — British soldier; so-called because of his red coat (especially during the American Revolution)

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

the extended spatial location of something

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

a partly sheltered anchorage

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

and nothing more

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

term of address for a man

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

not in physical motion

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

plural of “store” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

closely encircling

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

male cat

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

possessive form of “washington” — the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

in or at the place that

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading A RARE BEAST IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join.

during the time that

From this reading The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the cause of the poorly equipped patriots.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an engagement with Washington's army at this time.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The Americans were not holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the country roads.