Rogers was not popular except with his own men. His exterior was rough and unpromising, his conversation full of gasconade, and he was openly charged by some of the Royal officers with having broken his parole. They also imputed to him dis-obedience of orders and incapacity; asserting that he was directed to place himself a short distance in advance of the British army, instead of which, the post he took was two miles off, where he suffered himself to be surprised. A court-martial was called for, but Sir William Howe stood his friend. His activity and success in the capture of the Continental stores, and his coolness and courage in the defense of his post, saved him from a military investigation. But these were his last exploits. In the course of a few months he was com-pelled to resign the command of the Queen's Rangers. Sub-sequently, he appeared in arms on the northern frontier as a partisan for the King; but his services were not attended with either honor or success, and thenceforward, "the old Indian-hunter" walked in obscurity. When the attempt against Rogers was reported to Sir William Howe, the Sixth brigade under General Agnew was immediately moved to Mamaroneck, where this officer took up a strong position, for the purpose of supporting the rangers. On the same day, Lieutenant-general Knyphausen with the Second division of Hessians and the regiment of Waldeckers landed at New Rochelle. These troops were ordered to re-

Chapter I

26 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

main there for the present, to cover the debarkation of stores and provisions. Washington now hastened to concentrate his forces at Whiteplains, where the line for a fortified camp had been marked out several days previously, and where a corps of men had been engaged in throwing up works. The head-quarters of the army were removed on the 21st from Morris's House to Valentine's Hill.