Final answer:
General Washington executed a stealthy retreat, using silence, deception, and reinforcements from Pennsylvania to create the illusion that his forces remained in camp while they actually evacuated under the cover of darkness and fog, thereby evading British General Howe.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington implemented a strategic maneuver to save his army from the potential peril at the hands of British General Howe. With Howe and his men digging trenches, content in their position, Washington orchestrated a stealthy retreat to evade being trapped. Washington's army maintained silence, with measures such as muffled wagon wheels, to prevent the British from detecting their movements. Campfires were left burning to deceive the British into thinking the American forces were still encamped.
Meanwhile, reinforcements from Pennsylvania took positions to bolster the illusion. This tactical diversion was completed under the cover of darkness and rain, which turned to fog by morning, aiding the American escape. As the fog lifted, the British were confounded by the lack of American forces where they expected them to be, allowing Washington's troops to retreat without immediate pursuit.