At the very first council of war on the subject, held at Kingsbridge on the Kith of October, he advised its abandonment, both because he was convinced that in the case of a siege it would be taken, and because he foresaw that the whole theater of war would soon be shifted from Manhattan Island and the lower Hudson, in which event its usefulness would be ended. But he was loath to set ins authority against the unanimous judgment of his officers and congress, and while at every step personally favoring the withdrawal of the garrison, he finally permitted the fort to be defended. On the day of the Chattel-ton's Hill engagement (October 28) Howe

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

ordered General Knyphausen, then at New Rochelle, to take his whole command of mercenaries to Kingsbridge, with the exception of one regiment of Waldeckers, which was to be left at New Rochelle. This movement was probably intended as a preliminary step toward the general occupation of the lower portion of Westchester County. By Knyphausen encamped at Kingsbridge on the 2d of November. the 4th British troops had been stationed in the Mile Square, on Valentine's Hill, and at West Farms, and the New Rochelle WalOn the 6th, as aldeckers were transferred to Williams's Bridge. ready related, Howe, with the main army, was at Dobbs Ferry. From there on the 7th lie dispatched his pack of artillery to Kingsbridge, and immediately upon its arrival at that place the work of erecting These were shore was begun. batteries along the Westchester planted in conformity with the secret information about the Fort Washington works which the traitor Demont had furnished; and it was always a matter of astonishment to American officers in studyevery particular the enemy's aring the plans of the siege that in most Four excellent judgment. rangements were made with the three chosen-- were on Washingt Mount on separate lines of attack of them proceeding from the Westchester shore.