Conformably with this decision Washington on the 9th detached 3,000 men under General Heath to Peekskill and removed 5,000 to New Jersey under the temporary charge of General Putnam, intending to assume this command personally within a few days, and on the 10th he committed to General Loo the command of the North Castle residue, at that time about T.oOO. In making this disposition ho had two fundamental purposes -- first, to keep Heath's body of 3,000 permanently in the Highlands, without drawing upon it in any event for the re-enforcement of the main operating army; and second, to have Lee remain at North Castle only for the time being, until Howe's intentions should be developed. Upon (he latter point his directions to Lee were unmistakable. He directed that the stores ami baggage be removed north of the Croton River into General Heath's jurisdiction, and closed with this injunction: " If the enemy should remove the greater part of their foreo to the west side of Hudson's River, I have no doubt of your following with all possible dispatch." We shall see later how Lee, in his commander's direst need during the retreat through New Jersey, deliberately ignored this instruction and even assumed to exercise independent authority and to reverse Washington's express orders to Heath. On the night of the 10th of November Washington, having taken lu's departure from the remnant of the army at North Castle, went to Peekskill, and on the 11th, accompanied by Generals Heath, Stirling, George and James Clinton, and Mifflin, began a detailed inspection of points on both banks of the river above, which was extended the next morning into the defiles of the Highlands. This tour resulted