Eighty or ninety flat boats and small vessels, were assem-bled at Kipp's Bay; and on the night of the 11th, an embarka-tion of the troops was made, under the direction of Commo-dore Hotham. Early in the morning of the 12th the fleet sailed down the Sound. A thick fog prevailed, when the boats entered the then dangerous passage that conducted through Hellgate. Several boats, caught in one of the whirl-pools, and carried round and round toward the center, were

Chapter I

10 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

violently dashed against each other. For a while, the British officers apprehended the most disastrous consequences, but by skillful management, and extraordinary exertions, on the part of the oarsmen, they effected the passage without mate-rial damage, except such as arose from the oversetting of an artillery boat; an accident which occasioned the loss of three men and two field pieces. The enemy then coasted along, beyond Morrisania. Gen-eral Howe's chief guide, upon this occasion, was a gentleman of consideration, from the lower part of Westchester County. By this person's advice, the British commander was induced to disembark at Throg's Point, and the Carysfort frigate was placed so as to cover the descent; which took place about nine in the morning, Admiral Lord Howe being present along with his brother. The force that landed at this time was about four thousand strong; consisting of the guards, light infantry, reserve and Donop's corps. After completing a debarkation at Throg's Point, the British forced formed, and their advance pushed forward imme-diately to secure the only safe pass there was to the mainland. But General Heath was ready for them. On their first land-ing, Colonel Hand's select party of twenty-five riflemen, dis-mantled the bridge, under the direction of Major William S. Smith, afterward the son-in-law of President John Adams.