His confidence in his ability to repel a mere movement against Kingsbridge is well reflected in the following extract from a letter written from headquarters on the loth of October by Lieutenant-Colonel Tilghman to the committee of correspondence of the State convention: The Grounds leading from Frogs Point towards our Post at Kingsbridge are as defensible as they can be wished, the Roads are all lined with Stone fences and the adjacent Fields divided off with Stone likewise, which will make it impossible for them to advance their Artillery and Ammunition Waggons by any other Route than the great Roads, and I think if they are well lined with Troops, we may make a considerable slaughter if not discomfit them totally. Our Ride Men have directions to attend particularly to taking down their Horses, which if done, will impede their March effectually. Our Troops are in good Spirits and seem inclined and determined to dispute every Inch of Ground. Our Front is now so well secured that we can spare a considerable Number of our I>est Troops from hence if they are wanted. If we are forced from this post we must make the best Retreat we can, but I think this Ground should not be given up but upon the last Extremity.1

The cheerful remark in this letter that the commander-in-chief had matters so well in hand as to be able to spare a considerable number of his best troops for purposes other than his own defense against Howe received practical application on the same day by the send1 This letter 0 f Ti Ighman's was replied to on i Duer. from the citations the 14th, by Wi made in previo US ]l ages from the Duer-Tilghman correspond once . the reader will doubtless d with tiie perspicacity of have been impi the military situation; and the burr's views of (•lit made by him in his letter following c(,inni of the 14th, upi m oi ie of Tilghman's optimistic expressions, is ii fm ■ther instance of his discre-