The commander-in-chief had offered him a command suitable to his rank and reputation in the army, but he niade the unhealed state of his wounds, and so;ne other causes, the pretext for declitiing it, as the negotiations for the surrender of West Point had already commenced. Soon after the relinquishment of the enterprize against New York, a meeting was concerted to take place between the American commander-in-chief and the French military and naval commanders. Hartford, on the ( onnecticut river was the place assigned for their meeting; the object was to consult on their future joint operations. Upon the departure of Washington for this meeting Greene was placed in command of the main army. Tliis was on the 17ih of September, 1780. On the eighteenth Admiral Rodney arrived in New York with such an overwhelming reinforcement to the British navy as must have

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set the consiiliations at Hartford all at nouo^ht. From (hat time Greene's communications to the president of congress are full of the hurried preparations 2:oing on at New York for some important enterprise ; little did [ie, or any other |)erson suspect to what point that enterprze was directed.

It appears that General Greene had estabh'shed a regular communication for obtainitig intelligence from the city by spies; and his correspondents in that place were at a loss whether the expedition was intended for Rhode Island or Virginia, ''j'o one er other of these plnces (he enemy had been careful to throw out hint?!, or exhibit appearances, that the expedilioa was directed.