During the three weeks which had elapsed since the grand reconnaissance ofXew York, it was not alone Clinton who felt uneasiness and perplexity at Washington's apparent hesitation. The Americans and French themselves were at a loss to account for it; for not a whisper of the real considerations which were influencing the American commander was permitted to get abroad. The letters of the Abbe Robin, a priest attached to Rochambeau's army, reflect the prevailing uncertainty and speculation. On the 15th of August he wrote: " They who supposed we were to direct our route toward Virginia begin now to think they were deceived. Tart of the army on this [the French] side are preparing to march down by way of Kingsbridge; and on the other [American] side orders are given to get ready to proceed toward Staten Island and even to construct ovens to bake bread for the troops when camped in that quarter; others, again, are ordered toward Philadelphia. What are we to think? All tins seems to me like our theatrical marches where the concern and perplexity of the spectators is continually increasing. I

51G

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

am in doubt whether the unravelling of the matter will compensate for the trouble, anxiety, and uneasiness it occasions. ... It is said the armies will move in a day or two, which will enable us to determine the better to what quarter we are to proceed." There was indeed the most flourishing display on Washington's part of resolute and far-extending preparations to besiege New York. Besides beginning to build ovens in the vicinity of Staten Island, he had a large camp marked out there and much fuel collected, lie caused the Westchester County roads leading down to Kingsbridge to be cleared by pioneers, as if preliminary to a march in that direction, lie also adopted the familiar ruse of misleading dispatches, which were intrusted to ingenious scouts, who fell in with parties of the enemy and after desperate pretended efforts to escape were taken and reluctantly gave up their valuable papers.