Washington, orders to move as expeditiously as possible to Peekskill, where he would find Gen. Howe with two brigades. Gen. Heath w^as to take command of the whole, and carry into effect the orders which had been given to Gen. Howe. Gen. Heath returned immediately to the troops, and at 12 o'clock began his march towards Peekskill -- marched until dusk 15 miles, when the troops halted and laid down to rest on the side of the road, the dragoons not unsaddling their horses.

At 3 o'clock the next morning, the troops resumed their march, and in the afternoon Gen. Heath received information from Gen. Howe by express that Gen. Clinton was in full march with his whole army towards Verplanck's Point. An answer was returned, at what point the troops then were, and that they were marching as fast as the men could endure, and would continue so until they reached him. When the troops had advanced a little to the westward of Drake's farm, Col. Mayland came up from Gen. Howe with information that a part of Clinton's army were then above the new bridge on Croton River pushing for the Point ; and that he was retreating from the Point as fast as possible. On this Gen. Heath ordered Gen. Huntington with his brigade and two field pieces to push forward as fast as the troops could march and keep in breath, and take a position on thehigli ground to the south of Peekskill which commands the road to the Point, and also that to the new bridge on Croton River; and ordered a regiment to file off to the right and secure the pass over the hillp