1

Continental Service; and although, upon the adoption of the State Constitution, he was chosen Governor in July, he nevertheless continued cordially co-operating in the work before mentioned.

On the 7th of May, from head-quarters at Morristown, N. J., Washington wrote Brigadier-General McDougall, who had succeeded Brigadier-General Heath in the command of the New England troops at Peekskill and vicinity, that the imperfect state of the fortifications at Fort Montgomery gave him great uneasiness, and that a concurrence of circumstances indicated a movement of the enemy up the North River.

General McDougall was directed, in connection with General George Clinton, to employ every measure to put the works in a condition to resist a sudden attack, or detain the enemy until re-enforcements could arrive.†

In compliance with these instructions, Generals McDougall, Knox, Greene, George Clinton, and Wayne, proceeded to examine the works already erected; and on the "17th of May, these officers submitted a joint report to the Commander-in-chief, in which they recommended the obstruction of the river at Fort Montgomery by stretching a boom or chain across, in front of which should be one or two cables, to break the force of a vessel before it should strike the chain; that two. Continental ships then on the spot, and two row-galleys, should be manned and stationed just above the obstruction, in such

*The command of the department in the Highlands and vicinity, including Forts Constitution, Montgomery, and Independence, the passes, and the Division of Connecticut and Massachusetts troops, had been assigned to Brigadier-General Heath, 12th November, 1776-head-quarters at Peekskill.-[Heath's Memoirs, 85.]

Writings of Washington, Sparks, IV., 409.

a manner as to fire upon the enemy's ships in front when they approached." They also added: "We are very confident, if the obstructions of the river can be rendered effectual, the enemy will not attempt to operate by land, the passes through the Highlands are so exceedingly difficult."*

Unfortunately, this latter course, by penetrating overland, through the defiles in the mountains, was the very one adopted, and so successfully carried out by the

enemy.

At this time the command of the forces in and near the Highlands had assumed such proportions as to require a Major-General for its head, and accordingly Major-General Putnam was directed to relieve General McDougall early in the month of May.

On the 1st of July, from head-quarters at Middlebrook, Washington wrote Putnam: ** "It appears almost certain to me that General Howe and General Burgoyne design, if possible, to unite their attacks and form a junction of their two armies,

*

and

I am persuaded, if General Howe is going up the river, he will make a rapid and vigorous push to gain the Highland passes."+

These indications of an active movement on the part of the enemy were continued throughout the summer, and served to prepare the way for more decisive results in the autumn of 1777.

"The advance of General Burgoyne from the North towards Albany had been checked, and his army was suffering from want of provisions, while at the same time

* Spark's Writings of Washington, IV., 416.

+ Id., IV., 476.

General Howe, with the main body of the army under his command, was struggling with General Washington for the possession of Philadelphia. For the purpose of diverting the attention of the American forces, to secure the passes in the Highlands, and, if possible, to withdraw a portion of General Gates's army from its careful attention to General Burgoyne, General Sir Henry Clinton, then in command in the city of New York, organized an expedition for the capture of the forts in the Highlands, and for such other movements in that direction as the circumstances might warrant."*

In addition to the works already mentioned, redoubts had been thrown up by the troops encamped around Peekskill, at Verplanck's Point. and on the southern base of Anthony's Nose.

"Early in October the British General embarked his forces, ostensibly for a southern expedition, and awaited a favorable wind for the execution of his real design.

"The opportunities were propitious, and a powerful naval armament, with about four thousand troops on board, suddenly menaced Putnam's position and landed at Verplanck's Point, the garrison at which retreated on the approach of the fleet. Putnam was caught by the device; and, believing the defences on the east side of the river to be the object of the British General, obstinately refused the entreaties of officers more sagacious than himself, to send adequate succors to the posts opposite. Nor after the main body of the British had on the next day crossed over to Stony Point, and were on their march to Forts Clinton and Montgomery, and even after

*Battles of the U. S., I., 332.-Dawson.