No less than forty-two sail had passed the mouth of Harlem River going eastward, and it was apparent that this movement was no feint, but that Howe meant to " make his covp " in the direction of Westchester.'^ The troops at Harlem and at King's Bridge were ordered to their alarm posts, reinforcements were sent to King's Bridge and rations for three days' march were ordered to be cooked immediately. The next day General Heath visited the troops at Westchester. Skirmishing was kept up for a couple

1 Heath's ■' Memoire," page 68, and Edward de Lancey's paper on the Battle of Fort Washington, vol. i., MugmiiK of American Hi»torij.

2 Force, ii. 991 : Force, ii. 1025.

of days, and then our position being found too strong to carry with light troops, Howe advanced his heavy guns up the Throgg's Neck road and commenced the erection of a heavy earthwork immediately opposite the Westchester Bridge, not far from the site of the present Presbyterian Church.^ While this handful of men were checking the advance of the entire British army, Washington heard of the arrival, as they landed at New Rochelle, of the Hessian reinforcements, and was at once convinced that he could no longer hold the upper part of Manhattan Island, but must, with his illy equipped army, retreat beyond the Highlands of the Hudson. A council of war was held at King's Bridge ; the Albany post road was ordered to be put in good order by Colonel Drake's regiment of Westchester militia,* and everything put in train for the retreat of the main army from the island of New York to the main. On the 18th the Westchester Militia Regiment at the causeway was being relieved, when the enemy opened fire from the embrasures of the heavy earthwork opposite the village.