But it has been " asserted, that, by my not attacking the lines, on the " day of that action, I lost an opportunity of destroy- " ing the Rebel Army ; and it has been also said, "that I might have cut off the enemy's retreat by the " Croton-bridge. Sir : an assault upon the enemy's " right, which was opposed to the Hessian troops, " was intended. The Committee must give me credit " when I assure them, that I have political reasons, " and no other, for declining to explain why that as- " sault was not made. Upon a minute inquiry, those '' reasons might, if necessary, be brought out, in evi- " dence, at the Bar. If, however, the assault had been " made, and the lines carried, the enemy would have "got off, without much loss; and no way had we, " that I could ever learn, of cutting off their retreat "by the Croton-bridge. I cannot conceive the foun- " dation of such an idea. By forcing the lines, we " should, undoubtedly, have gained a more brilliant " advantage, some Baggage, and some Provisions ; but " we had no reason to suppose that the Rebel Army " could have been destroyed. The ground in their " rear was such as they could wish, for securing their " retreat, which, indeed, seemed to be their particular

•' object. And, Sir, I do not hesitate to confess that, " if I could, by any manoeuvre, remove an enemy " from a very advantageous position, without hazard- " ing the consequences of an attack, where the point "to be carried was not adequate to the loss of men to " be expected from the enterprise, I should certainly " adopt that cautionary conduct, in the hopes of " meeting my adversary upon more equal terms." '