The command of the river above York Island, at all times desirable for military operations in that quarter, was at this moment rendered peculiarly important to the British general, from the well known fact that the supplies of the Continental army, were to great extent received, by way of the North River; and from his knowledge that the inhabitants of Dutch-ess and Westchester were, for the most part, in the royal interest, and from recent and certain information, that they "were actually mediating an insurrection for the purpose of seizing the posts in the Highlands." Washington was well aware of their designs, and in order to prevent or defeat any such attempt, several corps of militia from New Hampshire and Connecticut, were, a few days subsequently ordered to Fishkill and Courtland's Manor. The British commander now employed his men in throw-in up a chain of redoubts, to extend across Macgowan's Hill, from the north to the East River. The object of these labors, was to cover the city of New York, and render it capable of a vigorous defense, while the main body of the army should be engaged in remote operations. The most anxious and frequent question which one Amer-

Chapter I

4 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

ican whig now put to another, was "Where will the British make their next attempt?" Here Washington's general off-icers were divided in opinion. Some of them supposed that General Howe's most earnest wish was to make himself the immediate master of the whole of New York Island, and that therefore he would at once attempt the subjugation of Fort Washington and its dependencies, by a direct attack. The others attributed to him more military skill. They main-tained that he would land in Westchester, and establish him-self in the American rear, for the purpose of compelling Washington either to hazard a general action, or to abandon his fortifications.