But the loss of 3,000 men, at the moment when he was engaging in a. new campaign having for its probable object the defense of the capital, with but a meager force at his disposal, which was rapidly moldering away in consequence of desertions and the expiration of militia terms of service, was about as disastrous a thing as could betide short of his own destruction. On the 20th Fort Lee was taken by an expedition of 5,000, which landed the night before opposite Yonkers. No resistance was attempted, and although the garrison of 2,000 was promptly withdrawn, it barely escaped capture. Then began Washington's famous retreat across New Jersey, with Cornwallis and Knyphausen in hot pursuit. It does not come within the scope of the present work 10 follow him in detail in this movement and his subsequent operations. But the very important aspect of Lee's disobedient, if not traitorous, conduct in lingering in Westchester County despite the urgent orders of his chief to join him in New Jersey, belongs to the essential Revolutionary annals of our county. On the 12th of November, upon taking command of the portion of the army dispatched to the west bank of the Hudson from the North Castle camp, Washington had at his bark only 5,000 men, of whom more than half were militia whose periods of enlistment, were expiring. Indeed, though he was strengthened eight days later by the 2,000 from Fort Lee, his ranks were so reduced by the departures of militiamen and other causes that by the time he gained the west shore of the Delaware on the 8th of December it is doubtful if he had more than 3,000 soldiers effective for active purposes. Soon after arriving in New Jersey lie appealed in pressing terms to the governor of that State, to its legislature, and to congress for fresh troops.