I think they will endeavor to Land the Main Body of their Army near Rye and endeavor to surround our Troops from the Sound to the North River." And the next day. writing to Robert Harrison, Washington's secretary, he says: " I . . . am happy to find you have got the Enemy in so desirable a Situation. " There appears to me an actual Fatality attending all their Measures. One would have naturally imagined from the Traitors they have among them, who are capable of giving them the most Minute Description of the Grounds in the County of Westchester, that they would have landed much farther to the Eastward [northward]. Had they pnzzl'd their Imaginations to discover the worse Place they could not have succeeded better than they have

done."

CAMPAIGN

main body of the American

BATTLE

WHITE

army remained.

PLAINS

Tlie apparent confusion

of mind which he experienced upon being apprised of Howe's landing was not of long duration; and indeed his energetic qualities as a commander were probably novel- displayed with greater or more judicious attention to detail than throughout the period of the British general's inactivity on the Sound. On the evening of the 12th he rode over to Westchester village and personally inspected the situation, becoming satisfied that it threatened no immediate clanger and that his plain duty, pending a further disclosure of the enemy's intentions, was to strengthen his defensive position in every way. At a loss to understand why Throgg's Neck should have been selected if the British purpose was to quickly push into his rear and entrap him, he inclined to the opinion that Howe's final object was to move on his works at Kingsbridge, and that to that end he would presently be supported by a second expedition, to be landed lower down, probably at Morrisania.