That undertaking was the forcing of a passage up the Hudson River, which could be done only by reducing several forts splendidly situated for defense and supported by a considerable body of troops posted below for the protection of the mounNo one can inspect the ground at Peekskill and above passes tain without a vivid realization of the severity of the task which the expedition from New York had to perform. Yet it was accomplished with perfect ease and slight loss. This business fell to the part of Sir Henry Clinton, upon whom the command in New York had devolved when Howe sailed for Philadelphia. It is said that Sir Henry's reason for delaying the movement

HISTORY

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on the Highlands was the necessity of waiting for re-enforcements from England, which were three months on the way. If this is true, the re-enforcements came just in the nick of time-- not, it is true, for Burgoyne's salvation, but for a judicious attack in the Highland quarter. When Sir Henry was prepared to move, Burgoyne was already doomed. On the other hand, if Sir Henry had moved a month earlier, when he might have boon of real service to Burgoyne, he would have boon confronted by a formidable instead of an insignificant force at Peekskill, and probably would have been baffled. His re enforcements could not have been large-- could hardly have been worth waiting for, indeed,-- since he took with him only 3,000 men. It seems to us that an important contributing reason, if not the chief reason, for his delay was a discreet resolve to wait until Washington, battling against great odds around Philadelphia, should, by his emergent necessities, summon to his own army part of Putnam's comthe better mand at Peekskill, and thus leave the Highlands in as weak a condition as possible.