And what adds to my mortification is, that this post, after the last ships went past it, was held contrary to my wishes and opinion, as I conceived it to be a hazardous one: but it having been determined on by a full council of general officers, and a resolution of Congress having been received, strongly expressive of their desire that the channel of the river which we had been labouring to stop for a long time at that place, might be obstructed, if possible; and knowing that this could notice done, unless there were batteries to protect the obstructions, I did not care to give an absolute order for withdrawing the garrison, till I could get around and see the sittiation of things; and then it became too late, as the. place was invested. Upon the passing of the last ships, I had given it as my opinion to General Greene, under whose care it was, that it would be best to evacuate the place; but, as the order was discretionary, and his opinion differed from mine, it was unhappily delayed too long, to my great grief.

The abandonment of Fort Lee was of course a foregone conclusion as soon as the enemy was in possession of Fort Washington. This movement was hastened by the appearance on the west side of the river of six thousand British troops tmder Lord Cornwallis. These crossed on a rainy night and established themselves under the line of the Palisades, five or six miles north of Fort Lee. Extending thence with the evident