The movement of the ships, up the river, and the consequent control of the latter, notwithstanding the obstructions on which so much dependence had been rested, very promptly called forth the entire energies of General George Clinton' and General Heath, 8 both of them in Westchester-county, to prevent the enemy from effecting a landing and for the protection of the property which was exposed to the ravages of his tenders and boats ; and, of course, the vigilant Commander-in-chief immediately despatched an express to the Convention, that notice might be immediately communicated to General James Clinton, commanding the forts, in the Highlands, putting him on his guard, and directing that precautions should be taken to prevent the river-craft from tailing into the hands of the enemy -- the General was not informed of the destination of the ships nor of the purposes of the movement ; but he was not, apparently, very much alarmed, and supposed, only, that they were sent to cut off the communication of the American Army, by water, to the northward •, " probably to gain recruits ;" and to close the supplies of the Americans, especially those of Boards, for the construction of Barracks,

"River, October 9, 1776;" General George Clinton to the Convention, "Kino's Bridge, 10 October, 1776 ;" The PMladelphia Evening Post,- Volume 2, Number 270, Philadelphia, Saturday, October 12, 1776; The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1767, Philadelphia, October 16, 1776 ; Memoirs of General Heath, 68, 69.

8 Memoirs of General Heath, 69.