On August 22, 1776, the British moved about 20,000 men from Staten Island across the Narrows to Gravesend Bay on Long Island. Four days later, after dividing his forces into three parts, and marching all night along feebly protected roads, General Howe´s army all but encircled the 3500 men in the outer-defenses around the Gowanus Valley. Despite the bravery of the men who confronted the British at the Old Stone House, the Americans were out-maneuvered and overwhelmed. Their whole position might have been taken by storm, but, fortunately, General Howe delayed. While the British organized for a siege, Washington succeeded two days later, under cover of a dense fog, in ferrying his remaining force across the East River to Manhattan, where he took up a fortified position.