At the start of December 1775, the Siege of Boston hadalready stretched into its eighth month. What had begun with the thunderous volleys at Lexington and Concord the previous April had devolved into a grinding stalemate, with General George Washington's Continental Army encircling the city while General William Howe's British forces occupied it.Neither side could claim victory, and both were suffering tremendously as the harsh New England winter began to tighten its grip.