Dear Sir: I received your letter of the 14th of May from Quebec, and shall fully observe its contents. The expedition to B—— [Boston] will take the place of that up the North River. If, according to my expectations, we may succeed rapidly in the possession of B—— [Boston], the enemy having no force of consequence there, I shall, without loss of time, proceed to coöperate with you in the defeat of the rebel army opposed to you. Clinton is sufficiently strong to amuse Washington and Putnam. I am now making a demonstration southward, which I think will have the full effect in carrying our plan into execution. Success attend you.
W. Howe.
The allusion of Howe to General Putnam indicated a better knowledge of the methods of that officer than appreciation of the character of Washington. The headquarters of General Putnam, who then commanded the Highland range of the defences of the Hudson, were at Peekskill. Forts Clinton and Montgomery were located upon a high spur of the range, on the west side of the river, separated by the Poplen, a small creek. Both were above the range of guns from ships-of-war, and so surrounded by ravines and crags as to be difficult of approach, even by land. A boom and heavy chain extended from the foot of the cliff to a sharp promontory opposite, known as “St. Anthony’s Nose.” So many troops had been sent to the support of Gates, that the garrison consisted mainly of militia. Advices had already been received that an expedition had been organized at New York for a diversion of troops from any further reënforcement of the American Northern army. Governor Clinton therefore ordered a considerable militia force to report to General Putnam for strengthening the garrisons of the river posts. But General Putnam furloughed the men during harvest and seeding, because the New York garrison seemed to rest so peacefully in their city quarters. Hearing of this extensive furlough, Governor Clinton promptly modified his own order, allowing one-half to remain upon their farms; but for the other half to report at Peekskill and the forts named. Before this modified order could take effect, the expedition of Clinton was under way; while the entire force assembled at the two forts was less than six hundred and fifty men.
Clinton’s expedition left New York on the third of October, and intentionally “made every appearance of their intention to land only at Fort Independence and Peekskill.” Putnam and his army, and his immediate surroundings, on the east bank of the Hudson, were ostentatiously announced as Clinton’s objective, and Putnam acted upon that basis. Governor Clinton was not so deceived, but adjourned the Legislature, then in session at Kingston, and hastened to Fort Montgomery to assist in its defence, and advise its garrison as to the available approaches to the post through the mountains, with which he was familiar. (See map, “Attacks of Forts Clinton and Montgomery.”)
Both Governor Clinton at Montgomery and Gen. James Clinton at Fort Clinton distinguished themselves by a stubborn resistance and great gallantry; but both posts were taken on the night of the fifth. The American loss was nearly three hundred—killed, wounded and missing; and two hundred and thirty-seven were taken prisoners. The British loss was forty killed and one hundred and fifty-one wounded. General Clinton was wounded in a bayonet charge, but escaped to the mountains; and Governor Clinton escaped by a skiff and joined Putnam. That officer was so confident of attack upon his own position that he had fallen back to the heights behind Peekskill. He thought it impracticable to leave that position to attack General Clinton, who first landed upon the east side of the river, but did make a reconnoissance southward when too late. He says, in his Report: “On my return from this reconnoissance with General Parsons we were alarmed by a very heavy and hot firing, both of small-arms and cannon, at Fort Montgomery. Upon which, I immediately detached five hundred men to reënforce the garrison; but before they could possibly cross to their assistance, the enemy, superior in numbers, had possessed themselves of the fort.”
The British advanced above Peekskill and destroyed some stores at Connecticut Village, and General Vaughan destroyed Esopus (Kingston). The forts were dismantled, and General Clinton returned to New York.
General Putnam, reënforced by militia from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, soon reoccupied Peekskill; where he was shortly afterwards strengthened by Continental troops from the northern army. The presence of an intelligent commanding officer of reasonable military skill, or the absolute control of both posts by Governor Clinton, would have prevented their loss. The limited range of this expedition of Sir Henry Clinton confirms Stedman’s statement, that he had no intention of pressing north to the aid of General Burgoyne.
CHAPTER XVIII.
PENNSYLVANIA INVADED.—BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE.
The British Commander-in-Chief entertained no doubts of the success of Burgoyne’s invasion from Canada. His reiterated appeals to Britain for reënforcements were not heeded, and he certainly knew that troops could not be furnished up to his demand. But he still hoped that the invasion from the north would so drain New England and New York of their able-bodied militia, as to render it impossible for either section to forward its respective full quota to the Continental army of Washington. Two campaigns into New Jersey had sufficiently satisfied him that he never could bend Washington to his knees; and yet he must get Washington away from his position near New York, and then defeat that army utterly, before British supremacy could be restored. This conviction, once before noticed, was reflected in a letter to Lord Germaine, from which extracts have interest. He had “not overlooked New England,” but says in this letter, that “Burgoyne’s movement would draw Washington’s army northward, where the population was dense and the spirit of defence was animated.” “In Connecticut,” he continues, “there was no object for which he would be willing to risk a general action; and only two or three places upon the coast of Long Island Sound could be kept in the winter.” But he adds that, if his “reënforcements had been forthcoming, New England would have had a share in the general operations of the campaign, while the main army acted toward the southward.” “To have moved up the Hudson, in force, would have imperiled New York, or sacrificed all other operations to a union with Burgoyne, who was expected to force his own way to Albany.” “To enter Pennsylvania, was not only to assail the capital, but attempted the surest road to peace, the defeat of the rebel army.”