From September to November, 1776 137 



died a few days later, much regretted by all who knew him, 

 as he was a young officer of great ability and promise. The 

 young Virginian was buried in the present Trinity Cemetery, 

 by the side of the brave Colonel Knowlton, the hero of the 

 Battle of Harlem Heights. 



Washington's headquarters during this time were in the 

 Roger Morris house at Edgecombe Avenue and 160th Street, 

 Manhattan, the colonial mansion which later became the 

 residence of the famous Madame Jumel, later the wife of 

 Aaron Burr. This occupies a commanding position overlook- 

 ing the Harlem River, the view to the southward extending to 

 the East River, and to the northward to Kingsbridge, so that 

 the movements of the British vessels or boats could be readily 

 seen. These were times of great stress of mind and body for 

 Washington; for he had on his hands a meddling Congress, 

 several scheming and ambitious officers, a cowardly and thiev- 

 ing militia, and a rapidly disintegrating army. In fact, he 

 felt so despairing that he said privately: "Such is my situation, 

 that if I were to wish the bitterest curse to an enemy on this 

 side of the grave, I should put him in my stead with my feel- 

 ings." He was strongly imbued with the idea that Howe 

 intended to land at Morrisania and attack him in his position 

 in Westchester County. No exertion was spared, therefore, 

 to make his position as strong as possible, and he was passing 

 continually from his headquarters to Kingsbridge, to Valen- 

 tine's Hill, to Yonkers, to Morrisania, and to Westchester, 

 personally superintending the disposition of his troops and 

 acquainting himself with the topography of the surrounding 

 country. 



A brief glance at the numbers and conditions of the two 

 armies on the eve of the Westchester campaign may not be 

 amiss. The British, including the Hessians who had already 



