The operations involved but slight losses, which wore abundantly compensated for by the actual damage done the enemy and by the excellent moral effect of so bold an enterprise as a sequence to the transactions of the main army in Xew Jersey. After Washington's magnificent return movement from across the Delaware, resulting in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, he went into winter quarters at Morristown (X. J.), and the British also brought the campaign to a close. General Howe, who had expected to make a triumphal march to Philadelphia, returned to Xew York City, where he set up a gay and glittering court, of which the Tory

42(3

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

refugees from Westchester County were conspicuous members. As the spring approached many were the speculations indulged on the American side as to the probable intentions of the enemy. There were rumors of a formidable invasion from Canada, but it was some months before these became substantiated by intelligence of the expedition of Burgoyne. In this uncertain state of things Washington manifested a decided conviction that Peekskill was the natural center for the concentration of troops pending actual developments. In March he transferred Heath from Peekskill to the command of the Eastern department, with headquarters at Boston, and soon afterward he instructed him to send on to Peekskill eight of the Massachusetts battalions, explaining that at Peekskill "they would be well placed to give support to any of the Eastern or Middle States, or to oppose the enemy should they design to penetrate the country up the Hudson, or to cover New England should they invade it. Should they move westward the Eastern and Southern troops could easily form a junction, and this, besides, would oblige the enemy to leave a much stronger garrison at New York. Even should the enemy pursue their first plan of an invasion from Canada, the troops at Peekskill would not be badly placed to re-enforce Ticonderoga and cover |