Of the various Revolutionary fortresses in the Highlands and that section, West Point was built last. In addition to its particular recommendations respecting Kingsbridge, the Highlands, and the Hudson, the continental congress advised New York to have its militia thoroughly armed and trained, and placed in "constant readiness to act at a moment's warning"; and, as a final matter, the colony was summoned to enlist and equip three thousand volunteers, who were to serve until the 31st of December, 1775, unless sooner discharged. In response to the demand for three thousand enlisted men, four regiments were formed, of which one, though known as the Dutchess County regiment, was composed to a considerable extent of Westchester County men. Its colonel was James Holmes, of Bedford, a grandson of one of the original proprietors of that town, who had served with credit as a captain in th'- French and Indian War. Although, in addition to accepting this commission, Holmes had been a delegate to the provincial congress, and soon afterward served with his command in the invasion of Canada, he subsequently became one of the disaffected, turned Loyalist, and was appointed lieutenant-colonel in the corps of Westchester ( ounty Refugees. Philip Van Cortlandt, son of Pierre Van Cortlandt and a leading member of the provincial congress, was made lieutenant-colonel ofthe Dutchess County regiment. Three of its ten com panics were largely from Westchester County. In the summer of 1775 the provincial congress ordered a complete reorganization of the militia of the colony, and required every member of that body, between the ages of sixteen and fifty, to provide himself with a musket and bayonet, a sword or tomahawk, a cartridgebox to contain twenty-three rounds of cartridges, a knapsack, one pound of gunpowder, and three pounds of balls. There were no regulations as to uniform.