There is, generally, a prodigality in the expenditure of both money and materials and labor, in all which relates to Armies ; but there seems to have been an excess of prodigality in the use of all these, of which the .\merican Army had such an insufficient supply, if the only purpose of the two lines of entrenchments, one at the foot and the other on the crest of the high grounds, at the White Plains, had been only for the "temporary and occasional " protection of a few Stores, handled and rehandled, over and over again, the whole of which could have been consumed by the Army, in less than six days, probably in half that time.*
If there had been, in fact, no other reason than these, for occupying and fortifying that position, there was reason for General George Clinton's doubts, when he wrote, " Uncovered, as we are ; daily on fatigue ; " making redoubts, tleches, abatis, and lines; and retreating from " them and the little temporary Inits made for our comfort, before they " are well flnished, I fear, will ultimately destroy our Army, without " fighting." ..." However, I would not be understood to con- " dcmn measures. They may be right, for aught I know. I do not un- " derstand much of the refined art of War : it is said to consist of " strategem and deception."-- (Geuerai George Clinton to John McKesson, " Cami' near the White Plains, October 31, 1776.")