CHAPTER XI.

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Movements of the Enemy. - Magaw on the Alert. Greene to Washington. Harrison to Greene. Washington to Greene. Greene to Washington. - Preparations for Defense. - Letters to and from Greene. Washington at Fort Lee. Fall of Fort Washington.

EARLY in the morning of that same day, the

5th of November, the enemy "made a sudden and unexpected movement from the several posts they had taken in front of the Americans."1 Washington had foiled them by superior generalship. Even Lee was satisfied. We," he writes to Franklin on the 6th," have by proper positions brought Mr. Howe to his ne plus ultra."2 "The design of this manoeuvre," writes Washington, "is a matter of much conjecture and speculation, and cannot be accounted for with any degree of certainty."8 Washington's conjecture proved the true one. expect the enemy will bend their force against Fort Washington, and invest it immediately. From some advices, it is an object that will attract their earliest attention." *

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Magaw was on the alert. "We have just now discovered," he writes to Greene on the 7th, "that

1 Washington to President of Congress. Sparks, Writings of Washington, vol. iv. p. 157.

2 Force, American Archives, 5th Series, vol. ii. p. 541.

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8 Washington to President of Congress, ut sup.

* Washington, ut sup.

the enemy have brought down about forty sail to Morrisania Point, ten of which are ships. By this, I imagine they are retreating, and intend to pay us a visit. This forenoon we discovered several English officers on the Plains on this side King's Bridge. We conjecture they had come from the grand army. We have made a bad exchange for Hutchinson's regiment, at least in point of numbers we have great need of the one hundred and twenty from them. Perhaps you can visit us in the morning. The Hessians continue intrenching on the heights on this side King's Bridge.' "Colonel Cadwallader," says the postscript, "has discovered twenty-three topsail vessels."1

But, farther north, New Jersey seemed their immediate object.

"By an express from Major Clarke, stationed at Dobbs' Ferry," Greene writes to Washington on the 7th, "I find the enemy are encamped right opposite, to the number of between three and five thousand; and the Major adds, from their disposition and search after boats, they design to cross the river. A frigate and two transports or provision-ships passed the chevaux-de-frise night before last; they were prodigiously shattered from the fire of our cannon. The same evening, Colonel Tupper attempted passing the ships with the pettyaugers loaded with flour. The enemy manned several barges, two tenders, and a row-galley, and attacked them. Our people ran the pettyaugers ashore, and landed and defended them. The enemy attempted to land several times, but were repulsed. The fire lasted about an hour and a half, and the enemy moved off. Colonel Tupper still thinks he can transport 1 Greene Papers, MSS.

the provisions in flatboats. A second attempt shall be speedily made. We lost one.

"General Mercer writes me the Virginia troops are coming on. They are now at Trentown. He proposes an attack on Staten Island; but the motions of the enemy are such I think necessary for them to come forward as fast as possible. On York Island, the enemy have taken possession of the far hill nearest to Spuyten Devil. I think they will not be able to penetrate any farther. There appears to be about fifteen hundred of them. From the enemy's motions, I should be apt to suspect they were retreating from your army, or altering their operations.

"Mr. Lovell, who at last is enlarged from his confinement, reports that Colonel Allen, his fellow-prisoner, was informed that transports were getting in readiness, to sail at a moment's warning, sufficient to transport fifteen thousand men.

"The officers of Colonel Hand's regiment are here with enlisting orders. The officers of the Pennsylvania regiments think it a grievance (such of them as are commissioned for the new establishment) that the officers of other regiments should have the privilege of enlisting their men before they get orders. I have stopped it until I learn your Excellency's pleasure. General Irvine is very much opposed to it. You'll please to favor me with a line on the subject."

On the 7th, also, Washington had heard of the passage of other ships through the chevaux-de-frise.

"His Excellency," writes Harrison on that day, "just now received intelligence that three of the enemy's ships passed the chevaux-de-frise yesterday, or the day before. When he considers this event, with the present disposition of the enemy, who have advanced towards the North River, he apprehends that they have something in view that we are not apprised of. He wishes you to post par

ties of observation at every place on the Jersey side of the North River where they can land, to watch their motions; and upon the least appearance of their collecting boats, or making any disposition to embark, that they will give him the earliest notice.”1

On the following day Washington himself wrote to Greene:

"The late passage of three vessels up the North River, of which we have just received advice, is so plain a proof of the inefficacy of all the obstructions we have thrown into it that I cannot but think it will fully justify a change in the disposition that has been made. If we cannot prevent vessels from passing up, and the enemy is possessed of the surrounding country, what valuable purpose can it answer to attempt to hold a post from which the expected benefit cannot be had? I am therefore inclined to think that it will not be prudent to hazard the men and stores at Mount Washington; but, as you are on the spot, I leave it to you to give such orders as to evacuating Mount Washington as you may judge best, and so far revoking the order given to Colonel Magaw to defend it to the last." 2

This letter reached Greene on the 9th, and he immediately answered it.

"Your Excellency's letter of the 8th this moment came to hand. I shall forward the letter to General Stephens by express. The stores at Dobbs' Ferry, I had just given orders to the quartermaster to prepare wagons to remove them. I think the enemy will meet with some difficulty in crossing the river at Dobbs' Ferry. However, it is not best to trust too much to the expected difficulties they may meet there.

1 Greene Papers. Letters to General Greene, 1776,

2

Sparks, Writings of Washington vol. iv. P. 164.

"By the letter that will accompany this, and was to have gone last night by Major Mifflin, your Excellency will see what measures I took before your favor came to hand. The passing of the ships up the river is, to be sure, a full proof of the insufficiency of the obstructions in the river to stop the ships from going up; but that garrison employs double the men to invest it that we have to occupy it. They must keep troops at King's Bridge to prevent a communication with the country; and they dare not leave a very small number, for fear our people should attack them.

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Upon the whole, I cannot help thinking the garrison is of advantage; and I cannot conceive the garrison to be in any great danger. The men can be brought off at any time, but the stores may not be so easily removed; yet I think they can be got off in spite of them, if matters grow desperate. This post is of no importance only in conjunction with Mount Washington. I was over there last evening. The enemy seem to be disposing matters to besiege the place; but Colonel Magaw thinks it will take them till December expires before they can carry it. If the enemy do not find it an object of importance, they will not trouble themselves about it; if they do, it is an open proof they feel an injury from our possessing it. Our giving it up will open a free communication with the country by the way of King's Bridge; that must be a great advantage to them and injury to us."

In the same letter of the 8th, Washington had written:

"The best accounts obtained of the enemy assure us of a considerable movement among their boats last evening; and, so far as can be collected from the various sources of intelligence, they must design a penetration into Jersey, and to fall down upon your post. You will therefore immediately have all the stores removed which you do not