Having been strengthened by the addition of six fresh and effective Regiments to his already powerful command, General Howe determined to attack the American lines, on the following day, [Thursday, October 31 ; ] and, for that purpose, all necessary preparations were duly made ; but the preceding night and the morning of that day were very rainy ; and the proposed movement was necessarily postponed.*

During the same day, [Thursday, October 31,] the Americans remained within their works, quietly preparing for the abandonment of them and carefully watching every movement of their enemy.

Supposing that one of the objects of General Howe was to turn the flank of the lines; to seize the bridge over the Croton-river ; and, thereby, to cut off the communication of the Army with the upper country, General Washington detached General Eezin Beall, with three fine Regiments of Marylanders, to occupy that very important pass; and General Lord Stirling was ordered, with the Brigade which he commanded, " to keep pace with the enemy's left flank, and to ■' push up, also, to Croton-river, should he plainly " perceive that the enemy's route lays that way." 5 At the same time that the Army was being rapidly diminished by the desertions of the Militia, 6 to say nothing of stragglers,' those who remained at their

1 Vide page 253, ante.

2 General Howe to Lord George Germaine, " New- York, 30 November, " 1776 j " [Hall's] History of Ike Civil War in America, i., 209 ; Stedman's History of the American War, i., 215 ; etc.