Colonel Swartwout's regiment threw up a battery " on the north side of Spuyten Duyvil Creek, at its very mouth," to prevent the enemy from approaching the bridge in boats, and also constructed two additional redoubts on the top of Tippett's Hill, one of which was called " P^ort Swartwout." No "fatigue rum "was allowed to any one engaged on these works, except on certificate that he had been " faithful, obedient and industrious." On the 27th the Provincial Congress, then sitting at Harlem, alarmed by the defeat on Long Island, ordered its records and papers, and the receiver-general's chest to be taken at once to the camp at King's Bridge. On the 29th Heath impressed every boat and craft at the post and hurried them down to Washington for use in the retreat from Long Island. On the 31st the inhabitants began driving their cattle into the interior. The Committee of Safety now urged on Washington the defensibility of the country above the bridge and the dreadful consequences of its occupation by the enemy. He replied that the defensible state of that ground had not escaped him, and that as the posts at King's Bridge were of such great importance, he hoped the convention would artbrd aid for their defense. When it became evident in September that the city was untenable by the Americans in the face of the superior British force, Washington determined to take post at King's Bridge and along the Westchester shore, where

- Fort Washington, near n liicli the old Blue Bell tavern stood. 'The night guard in this work, October 17, 1770, was one captain, two lieutenants and fifty men.