Inquiries, it was said, had been made by Englishmen high in authority as to the feasibility of erecting forts in the Highlands, thus controlling the navigation of the river. x\lbany was also included in these designs for keeping open communication between Quebec and the lower provinces. vSuch reports, whether well or ill founded, had the desirable effect of inciting the Continental leaders to measures for the protection of the river and its shores. The military importance of the Hudson in the impending struggle could not be overestimated, and although the scene of conflict shifted from Canada to the Carolinas, and the fields of Pennsylvania and New Jersey were de\'astated, yet from first to last the great river was the key to the continent for which both sides contended. On suspicion that New York City was the destination of the fleet preparing 160to sail under command of

The Island and the River in 1776 103

Sir Henry Clinton, from Boston, General Lee urged Washington to i^ermit him to recruit for its defence a force of Connecticut troops. The commander approved this plan, Ijut doubted apparentl}' whether his authority was sufficient to warrant such an exercise of power. John Adams, being near at hand at the time, was consulted, and strongly endorsed the proposed measure, considering as a sufficient warrant the extraordinary authority with which Washington had recently been invested by Congress. Lee w^as thereupon commissioned to raise volunteers in Connecticut, secure military aid from New ycrse^^ disarm the Tories in the neighbourhood of New York, and to put the city and river in a condition for defence against the contemplated attack of the British. After some difficult}' he succeeded in accom|;)lishing the greater part of this task, and proceeded to take possession of New York. But the first movement in that