Macdonald's Research Notes

"The secret plan of operations of the British Ministry is:- * with the assistance of Govr Tryon, who is much relied on for the purpose, to get immediate possession of New York & Albany; to fill both of these cities with very strong Garrisons; to declare all rebels who do not join the King's forces; to command the Hudson & East rivers with a number of small men of war & cutters, stationed in different parts of them, so as wholly to cut off all communication by water between New York & the Provinces to the Northward of it, &. bet. N.Y. & Albany, except for the King's service; - & to prevent also, all communication bet. the City of New York & the Provinces of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, & those to the Southward of there. &c." p. 87. / The first Fortress erected in the Highlands seems to have been Fort Constitution on Constitution Island (?) - It was built in the summer & Fall of '75 by B. Romans, an engineer who appears to have been previously in the English service - Speaking of the sites where *the* Forts, Independence?

Montgomery, & Clinton were afterwards established, Romans says: The point on the West side, above Verplanck's point, is too easy of access. & in the vicinity of many ill disposed people; besides this, it can be of but little use. - But at Poop loops Kill, oppose to Anthony's Nose, is a very important pass; the river narrow, commanded a great way up & down, full of counter currents & subject to almost constant gale winds: nor is there any anchorage at all, except close under the works to be erected. &c." pp. 88, 89, 101-106 &c. / The above mentioned & other Forts seem to have been constructed in conformity with certain resolutions passed May 25th, 1775, in the Continental Congress; - direc ting.1 "That a post be immediately taken & fortified at as near Kingsbridge in the Colony of New York; that the ground be chosen with a particular view to prevent the com munication between New York City & the Country from being interrupted by land. - 2.