The condition of the men under Lee's command was deplorable, most of them being without shoes, stockings, blankets, or proper clothing, and this was instanced by him as an excuse for not leaving the post, But he was no worse off than Washington in that particular. When the latter, with his band of heroes, attacked the Hessians at Trenton, the whole line of march of the little army was stained with the bloody footprints of the shoeless soldiers. The records of Lee's transactions while at North Castle show that not only the whole upper portion of Westchester County, but the central sections as well, were quite abandoned by the enemy during that period. Two of Lee's official letters are dated from " Philipsbourg" (probably Tarrytowu). As far south as Dobbs Ferry the

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GENERAL

Americans appear to have been in undisputed control. On the 26th an adof November General Sullivan, in a report to Lee, alluded to with a venture which the continental guard at Dobbs Ferry had had chalbeingwhich made off upon party of supposed British horse, deserted by the British. Writing lenged. Even Mamaroneck was to Seed on the 21th of November, Lee mentioned a project he had formed to cut off Rogers's corps of Queen's Bangers at that place, together with a troop of light horse and a part of the Highland (Scotch) and another brigade; but upon attempting to carry it into execution he found that these hostile forces had been withdrawn. of WestBut though the enemy for the time being occupied none chester Countv except the part immediately adjacent to Manhattan ships-- the - Phoenix," - Roebuck," and " Tartar "--still Island, their in the Hudson River, preventing the use of the Dobbs Ferry continued route for the transfer of the American troops to the other side.