General Washington detached General Rezin Beall, with three fine Regiments of Marylanders, to occupy that very important pass; and General Lord Stirling was ordered, with the Brigade which he commanded, " to keep pace with the enemy's left flank, and to " push up, also, to Croton-river, should he plainly " perceive that the enemy's route lays that way." ^ At the same time that the Army was being rapidly diminished by the desertions of the Militia,'' to say nothing of stragglers,' those who remained at their

1 Vide page 253, ante.

^ Geiwral Hnire to Lord George Oennaine, New-York, 30 November, "177G;" [Hall's] Ilialonj of the Civil War in Ameriea, i., tWd ; Stednmn's History of the Awerican H a?-, i., 215 ; etc.

'How's Diimj, October 30; LtU-r frcm Uuiitenanl coionel Tilghman to his father, " White-Plains, 31 October, 1776."

* General Rnwe to Lord George Germaine, " New York, 30 November, " 1776 ;" [Hall's] Histonj of the Civil War in America, i., 209 ; Stedman'e History of the American War, i., 215 ; etc.

^Lieutenant-colonel Tilghman to Willi^im Dtier, "White-Plains, Octo- "l)er31, 177r.."

''"Our Army is decreasing, fast: several gentlemen who have come " to Camp, within a few days, liave observed large numbers of Militia " returning home, on the different roads." -- {Colonel Robert H. Harrison to the President of the Congress, " White-Plains, October 31, 1776.")

"It" [o reinforcement,] "will arrive, very seasonablj', and in part "make up for the deficiency occasioned by daily desertions of our men, " who are returning to their homes in the most scandalous and infamous " manner. The roads are crowded with them." -- {Colonel Robert H. Harrison to Governor Trumbull, "White-Plains, November 2, 1776.")