From September to November, 1776 135 



retreat began to the upper county, so many draught animals 

 had been stolen by individuals, both officers and men, that 

 enough animals could not be found to drag the stores and artil- 

 lery; and the guns and wagons had to be hauled in relays and, 

 very frequently, by hand. The terms of enlistment of thou- 

 sands of men expired during the months of September and 

 October, and every one that could do so helped himself to a 

 horse or anything else that took his fancy, and which he could 

 take back to New England with him. It was providential 

 that the Americans were opposed by a commander that took 

 things in a leisurely and dilatory way; otherwise, they would 

 have lost everything; as it was, the army lost little or nothing. 



For several weeks the two opposing armies were apparently 

 inactive; though, as a matter of fact, the Americans were 

 busily engaged in strengthening the defences of Fort Washing- 

 ton, the posts at Kingsbridge, at "White Plains, and the various 

 outposts already mentioned; while the British were erecting 

 a strong line of defences to prevent attack from the north, 

 extending along the heights commanding the Plains of Harlem ; 

 that is, the present Morningside Heights, the north end of 

 Central Park and McGowan's Pass; in addition, they occupied 

 the islands in the East River and thus controlled the Sound. 



The most strongly garrisoned of these islands was Montres- 

 sor's (now Randall's), which was separated from the mainland 

 by the narrow and shallow strait called Bronx Kills. At the 

 manor-house of Morrisania, opposite the island, was a strong 

 outpost of Americans; and the pickets frequently exchanged 

 shots, until the two commanders of the posts mutually agreed 

 to refrain from firing on each other's pickets. This pleased 

 the men, who even exchanged articles by throwing them 

 across the narrow strip of water. A raw picket on the British 

 side, who did not know of the agreement, began to fire on the 



