Summary

The Battle of Long Island was a disaster for George Washington’s army. His 10,000 troops were crushed by the British and its 400-ship fleet. But it could have been so much worse. It could have been the end of the Revolutionary War. All the British had to do was sail up the East River and Washington’s cornered troops would have been wiped out, with Washington captured and executed for treason. That was their plan. But it never happened, because the wind wasn’t blowing in the right direction. Historian David McCullough once explained to Charlie Rose: McCullough: If the wind had been in the other direction on the night of August 28th, I think it would have all been over. Rose: No United States of America if that had happened. McCullough: I don’t think so. Rose: Just because of the wind, history was changed. McCullough: Absolutely. We know one version of history – the version that actually happened – but there are infinite alternative versions that were just as likely to come true. Read enough of these freak events ...