There is, generally, a prodigality in the expenditure of both money and materials and labor, in all which relates to Armies ; but there seems to have been an excess of prodigality in the use of all these, of which the American Army had such an insufficient supply, if the only purpose of the two lines of entrenchments, one at the foot and the other on the crest of the high grounds, at the White Plains, had been only for the "temporary and occasional " protection of a few Stores, handled and rehandled, over and over again, the whole of which could have heen consumed by the Army, in less than six days, probably in half that time.*

If there had been, in fact, no other reason than these, for occupying and fortifying that position, there was reason for General George Clinton's doubts, when he wrote, " Uncovered, as we are ; daily on fatigue ; "making redoubts, Heches, abatis, and lines; and retreating from " them and the little temporary huts made for our comfort, before they " are well finished, I fear, will ultimately destroy our Army, without " fighting." ..." However, I would not be understood to con- " demn measures. They may be right, for aught I know. I do not understand much of the refined art of War: it is said to consist of " strategem and deception." -- (General George Clinton to John McKesson, " Camp near the White Plains, October 31, 1776.")

6 Colonel Robert H. Harrison to the President of the Congress, " White- " Plains, October 31, 1776 ;" Letter from a Gentleman in the Army, dated " Camp near the Mills, about three miles North of the White- " Plains, November 1, 1776," published in The Pennsylvania Evening Post, Vol.