For the purpose of cutting the line of communication of the City of New York, through the Sound, with the sea -- the way to the ocean, by way of the Narrows, having been already occupied by him -- the enemy very judiciously occupied Barren-island, belonging to Westchester-county, Montresor's -- now Randall's -- island, and what is now known as Ward's-island -- the latter two belonging to the County of New York, all of which, to some extent, at least, commanded the passage to and through the Sound ; ' and, on the tenth and eleventh of September, a considerable body of troops was landed on Montresor's-island, 8 which entirely com-

* Colonel Joseph Drake, in his letter to the Convention, dated " New- " Rochet,!., Augt. 28, 1776," said "they have not been able to plunder "much; they got from Mineford's-island " [now City-island, ] '■ 4 horned " cattle and some poultry, which is all we have been able to learn they ' liMve plundered." In his Memoirs, (page 56,) General Heath said " the " enemy carried off one man and 14 cattle."

5 Memoirs of General Heath, 55, 56 ; Colonel Joseph Drake to General Morris, " New Rochel', Augt. 27, 1776 " -- Historical Manuscripts, etc.: Miscellaneous Papers, xxxvi., 339.

6 Memoirs of General Heath, 59.

7 Stedman's History of the American War, i., 199.

8 Memoirs of General Heath, 59.

WESTCHESTEE COUNTY.

manded the Manor-house -- all there was, at that time, of Morrisania, except the small farmhouses of the manorial tenantry, which were scattered over the surrounding country. The channel which separated Morrisania, in Westchester-county, from Montresor'sisland, in the City of New York, being quite narrow, and a heayy picket of four hundred and fifty mounted men having been constantly maintained at Morrisania, the sentries of the respective forces, posted within halfgunshot distance, sometimes fired at each other, in violation of the inconsistent usages of War; and General Heath has recorded some interesting instances of both the friendly and the unfriendly correspondence of these very important minor outposts. 1 But a couple deserters from a man-of-war which was anchored off the island, conveyed such information to General Heath as led him to suppose that the entire force which occupied that island could be easily captured; and, having submitted the subject to the consideration of the General Officers of his Division and to General Washington, and, having received the approval of all, he proceeded to make the attempt.