Early on the morning of the twenty-seventh of August, two ships and a brig anchored a little above Throgg's-neck ; and before the troops whom General Heath had sent for the purposes of protecting the neighboring property, could reach the shore, several barges had gone ashore, on City-island ; killed several cattle ; * and carried away the dead animals and one of the inhabitants. The troops managed to secure the remainder of the cattle which were on the island.*

As there was an evident intention, on the part of the enemy, to occupy one or more positions, on New York-island or within Westchester-county or both, General Heath, who commanded all the Continental troops at Kingsbridge and in the last-mentioned County, with that faithful attention to his duties which so generally characterized him, ordered a chain of vedettes and other sentries to be maintained at Morrisania, Hunt's-point, Throgg's-neck, and other points, on the Sound, in order that the movements of the enemy, had he inclined to move to those neighborhoods, or to either of them, might be promptly made known to him.'' The usefulness of that wise precaution will be seen, hereafter.

For the purpose of cutting the line of communication of the City of New York, through the Sound, with the sea -- the way to the ocean, by way of the Narrows, having been already occupied by him -- the enemy very judiciously occupied Barren-island, belonging to Westchester-county, Montresor's -- now Randall's -- island, and what is now known as Ward's-island -- the latter two belonging to the County of New York, all of which, to some extent, at lea.st, commanded the passage to and through the Sound ; ' and, on the tenth and eleventh of September, a considerable body of troops was landed on Montresor's-island,* which entirely com-