Neither but at nor any part of the Neck was occupied by American troops, the only loWestchester causeway and also at the head of the creek, calities affording passage to the mainland, the picked riflemen posted of General about a week previously, through the happy foresight invader on Heath still stood guard. As soon as the presence of the ripped up bridge the at men the them, to known the Neck became of redcoats party tering reconnoi first the when and its planking;

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

approached they gave them the contents of their muskets. The enemy beat a hasty and disorderly retreat; and, although the defenders of the bridge were only twenty-five against many thousands, and the possession of that pass was of supreme importance to Genera] Howe, no serious attempt was made to secure it. lie however ordered a breastwork erected, facing the structure. For the rest, he sent out detachments to explore the unknown and mysterious land upon which ho had debarked, who, returning, gave him the disheartening information that it was an island, with only one possible crossing-point to the main, a fording-place, where also a party of rebels with rifles of particularly deadly quality disputed the way. In such circumstances Bowe A\as powerless, at least pending the conveyance of intelligence lo the American cam]), which, of course, resulted in the dispatching of re-enforcements. General Heath "immediately ordered Colonel Prescott, the hero of Bunker Hill, with his regiment, and CaptainLieutenant Bryant, of the artillery, with a three-pounder, to reenforce the riflemen at Westchester causeway, and Colonel Graham, of the New York line, with his regiment, and Lieutenant Jackson, of the artillery, with a six-pounder, to re-enforce at the head of the creek; all of which was promptly done/' These forces, insignificant though they were in comparison with what Howe could have hurled against them, proved sufficient.