Governor Clinton was informed somewhat in advance of the coming of the enemy through the passes, and sent to Putnam for help, but his messenger never reached the doughty general. Irving says he turned traitor and deserted to the enemy. Putnam had been completely outmaneuvered. Although the crossing of a British force to the west side had been reported to him, he supposed this was only a detachment, and thought the main body was still at Verplanck's Point, and

would come

upon him in due

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

time.1 He not only did not re-enforce the garrisons, but apprehended nothing of the truth until the guns of the forts boomed upon his astounded ears. Added to his confusion as a duped general was the mortification of a true soldier, ardent for battle but denied that not privilege by a specious antagonist; for his own position was in assailed. Putnam, when in splenetic humor, was not over nice the choice of words; and it can be imagined but not printed with what dreadful language he must have remarked upon the eventuality. fastThere was a display of fireworks that night in theorromantic since. Two nesses of the Highlands never equaled before American ships and two armed galleys were stationed above the chain, and when the fate of the forts was decided they were set on fire to save them from the enemy. When the magazines were reached blew up with terrific explosions, which long reverberated among they mountains. the Continental Village, with its barracks, storehouses, and a number of loaded wagons, was burned on the 9th by a detachment under was not Major-General Trvon. Westchester County below Peekskill Putnam included in this Visitation, and before the end of October was back in Peekskill with a force of 6,000. The whole Hudson being open, the British ascended it and ravaged the country.