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

192 The Hudson River

intention of forming a line which should separate the garrison of Fort Lee from the remainder of the American army, their manoeuvre was anticipated by Washington's rapid retreat to the Hackensack. Artillery, baggage, tents, and camp equipage were abandoned. Even camp kettles, we are told, were on the fires when the British made their uncontested entrance into Fort Lee.

Chapter XIII

From S|)in'ten Duyvil to Yonkers

WHILE we have been deploring the passing of the white wings, Anthony Van Corlaer, -- half trumpeter, half myth, -- has delayed his drowning in the wild waters of Papuinemen, w^aiting for an audience. He deserves a Wagner, w^ho might do him justice. Anthony the Trumpeter was dispatched on a warlike mission to the Patroon Van Rensselaer, when he came to the stream that forms the upper boundary of Manhattan Island. Warned not to cross, he still persisted in advancing, intending to gain the other shore by swimming. " Spuyt den Du3^vil!"he shouted, " I will reach Shoraskappock. " But his challenge to the Duyvil was unfortunately his last recorded utterance, as at that moment his Satanic Majesty, in the form of an enormous moss bunker, took him at his word and tried conclusions then and there.