It was separated from the mainland by a narrow creek and a marsh, and was surrounded by water, every high-tide. At the time of which we write, a bridge across the creek, connecting with a causeway across the mai'sh, afforded means for communication between the mainland and the Neck; besides which, however, the upper end of the creek was fordable, at low-water.' As early as the third of October, General Heath, who commanded those detachments from the Army who were in Westchester-county, had reconnoitred his position, accompanied by Colonel

5 Annual Register for 1776, Hi»lory of Europe, 176*.

^[Hall's] Hktfjri/ of the CiiU War in America, i., 203; Stedman's History of the American War, i., 210 ; etc.

It is very evident, from indirect questions pnt to the Government's witness against Sir William Howe, Geneial Robertson, before a Committee of the House of Commons, on the fourteenth of June, 1779, that Lord George Germaine was also inclined to criticise the occupation of Throgg'sneck, adversely.

'It is said that the place for the landing of the troops was entirely entrusted to the naval officers, by whom Throgg's-neck was selected, because of the unfitness of Pell's-neck, fur that purpose ; and a glance at the official Chart of the Coast Survey, will satisfy any one of the wisdom displayed in the choice-- the shallowness of the water, elsewhere, would have prevented the co-operation of the larger vessels of evi-ry class ; and, certainly, the landing of the troops at Pell's-neck could not have been covered by any vessel of force sufficient for such a purpose, without which no prudent officer would have attempted a landing, anywhere.