While the Convention was thus bravely and, generally, with excellent judgment, employed in making preparations for a vigorous and effective resistance, whatever the purposes of the enemy may have been, General Clinton, then at Fort Montgomery, as we have already seen, not only welcomed one of the enemy's tenders, which was beating up the river, taking soundings as she went, with a thirty-two pound shot, which caused her to put about and run down the river, to the place where the ships had anchored ; but he also made preparations for the removal of all the goods, from the storehouses, and all the Cattle, Sheep, etc., from the farms which were contiguous to the river, to places of safety ; and, on the following day, [July 17, 1776,] he went down with a force sufficiently strong to do what he had proposed ; successfully removed what had not yet been removed by others ; and left one hundred and eighty Militia, under the command of a prudent officer, to oppose any attempt which might be made to effect a landing or to open a communication with the shore. 3

On the same day, [July 17, 1776,] the Rose and one of the tenders ran up the river, the former within

1 Journal of tlie Convention, "Tuesday afternoon, 16 July, 1776."

2 The Convention to General Washington, " White Plains, July 16, 1776." Of the last-named excellent suggestion, General Washington subsequently wrote, * * * "but I did not think myself at liberty tu '* urge or request his" [Governor TnwibulVs] "interest in forming the " Camp of six thousand men, as the levies, directed by Congress, on the " third of June, to be furnished for the defense of this place, by that "Government, are but little more than one-third come in.