Early in Septem^. -- --- .... <" * * <" > • * >• from inm of ber he established «> < hain Morrisania to Throgg's vedettes moven Neck, so as to provide tor immediate informatio of any hostile render to began also lie force, in resistance require ment'that 1I1 the Harlem and the Sound ds might leading from the villages artillery British trees athwart them the to telling le by impassab and digging deep pits. His division was increased to ten thousand men of all arms (including ineffectives), while about an equal number remained with Washington on Manhattan Island. This disposition shows how important was deemed the business of guarding against the contingency of a sudden attempt to cut off the retreat of the army to the BLUE BELL TAVERN. north. The suggestion of the likelihood of such an attempt was received, as we have noted, on the 27th of August, when two British ships and a brig took a station above Throgg's Neck. That was, however, only a preliminary movement, and, although men from the ships were landed on City Island and seized all the cattle a regithey found there, they quickly retired upon the arrival ofthe 10th ment sent by General Heath to protect that locality. On Washof September, five davs before the British army moved upon Island Randall's) (now 's Montressor Bay, Kip's from ington's forces amount w;?s taken, and a detachment was placed there, with a large Colonel of stores. The island commanded the Morrisania shore, and hunfour Some range. convenient within Morris's manor honse was dred of Heath's men were posted along the shore, and for a time between their senthere were frequent interchanges of complimentsMuch irritation was tinels and those of the British on the island. between the caused on both sides bv occasional exchanges of shots