8 In his despatch to Lord George Germaine, "New- York, 30 Novem- " ber, 1776," General Howe .stated that "three Battalions of Hessians " were drawn from Staten Island ; " but in his Speech before a Committee of the House of Commons, April 29, 1779, when his conduct, as Commander-in-chief of the King s forces in North America, was under consideration, he stated, without contradiction, that the reinforcement consisted of " the Second Division of Hessians." We have preferred the former statement; because there was, then, only one Brigade of Hessians OD Staten Island; and because the "Second Division of Hessians," under General Knyphausen, had not, then, reached America.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1774-1783.

" not have been executed without much unnecessary " risk." »

Having at length, completely effected his occupation of Throgg's-neck and completely provided for his probable need.s, General Howe determined to open his operations in We=tchester-county, without further delay ; and, at one o'clock in the morning of Friday, the eighteenth of October, the van of the Royal Army, consisting of the Light Infantry and Grenadiers of the British Regiments and a portion, at least, if not all, of the German Chasseurs, was re-embarked, in flat boats, on the western side of the Neck ; and, having passed around the Point of Throgg's-neck, was landed on Pell's, or, as it was sometimes called, Rodman's, neck, on the opposite side of Hutchinson'sriver, in the Town of Eastchester.^ The main body of the Army crossed over to the eastern side of the Neck ; and, during the day, that, also, with all its various appointments and stores and supplies, was carried over to Peli's-neck.^