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 |

the country around Albany." Heath was succeeded at Peekskill by Brigadier-General McDougall, who had commanded at the engagement on Chatterton's Hill. McDougall had scarcely become installed in the post when he was energetically attacked by the British-- their first move of any importance in the year 1777. Howe, being informed of the existence of large depots of stores at and near Peekskill, decided to destroy them, and on the 23d of March, the river having become freed of ice, sent iip Colonel Bird for that purpose with 500 troops and four light of the expedition McDougall, beingfield-pieces. Before the arrival informed of its coming, removed a portion of the stores to Ports Montgomery and Constitution. Bird landed his men and guns at Lent's Covej near Peekskill Village, whereupon McDougall, having at MARINCS