< Doctor Sparks, in his Writings of George Washington, (iv., 30, note,) said " the mode of constructing the chevaux-de-frise was a contrivance of " General Putman's ; " and, in support of that statement, he quoted from a letter written by the General to General Gates, dated July 20th, in which were these words ; " We are preparing chevaux-dc-frise, at which " we make great dispatch by the help of ships, which are to be sunk ; a " scheme of mine, which you may be assured is very simple, a plan of "which I send you."

Had not the General's own words been given in support of the statement, we should have supposed the Doctor had mistaken the General for Colonel Rufns Putnam, who was an Engineer: and the more so, since even the most zealous of the General's biographers and eulogists are silent, on this subject. Possibly, however, that silence may be accounted for, from the result of the professional stupidity of the Engineer, whomsoever he may have been.

5 In this instance. General Washington was mistaken, since the "shipa "suffered much, in their masts and rigging;" and Captain Parker subsequently reported that the Pho-nix lost a Midshipman, two Seamen, and one Servant, killed, and a Boatswain, a Carpenter, eight Seamen, a Servant, a negro Man, and a private Marine, wounded ; that the Jioebuck lost a Lieutenant, a Midshipman, and two Seamen, killed, and a Midshipman, two Seamen, and a Corporal of Marines, wounded ; and that the Tartar lost a Midshipman, killed, and a Lieutenaut of Marines wounded. -- (Keport of the Kilted and Woimded on board His Majesty's Ships pasting the Batteries, the 0th of October, 1776.)