Besides the despatch of an express to Head-quarters, with intelligence of the enemy's movements, to which reference has been made,* General Heath reinforced the guard, at the bridge, by ordering Colonel Prescott, the hero of Bunker's-hill, with his Regiment, and Captain-lieutenant Bryant, of the Artillery, with a three-pounder, to march to that place ; and Colonel Graham, of the New York Line, with his Regiment, and Lieutenant Jackson, of the Artillery, with a sixpounder, was ordered to march to the head of the creek, for the reinforcement of the guard who had been posited at that place. Besides the throwing up of an earthwork, opposite the western end of the causeway, the addition of the Brigade commanded by General McDougal to General Heath's command, and an irregular, scattering fire which was indulged in, by both parties, nothing further was done by either of the Annies, during that day.''

When the intelligence of the movement of the greater portion of the Royal Army into Westchestercounty, reached Head-quarters, General Washington appears to have given way to despair, in view of his powerlcssness, and to have become despondent ; although he a|)pears to have really believed that the movement was not anything else than a feint. It is true that he ordered every Regiment who was under his immediate command, to be under arms, there, that it might be ready to act as occasion might require; that he authorized General Heath to make such disposition of the troops, in Westchester-county, including two Regiments of Militia who were posted near Kings-bridge, as he should think proper; and that he begged and trusted that every possible opposition would be given to the enemy, adding " God bless and lead you "on to Victory; " * but it was hardly consistent with his duty, as Commander-in-chief of the Army, at that important moment, to remain at Head-quarters ; to give the absolute command of all the trooj)s which were before the enemy to an Officer, excellent though he evidently was, as a subordinate, whose experience