inst, General Wayne with a party of infantry attacked the enemy's works at Stony Point — the garrison consisted of about six hundred men — it being the dead of night they were not discovered until they had got within about sixteen rods of the works, the alarm was instantly given, but such was the dex- terity of our men that they gained some part of the enemy's works before their picket guard. Our men were distinguished by having white paper in their hats and by these words The Fort is our own. The fire for a few minutes was very fierce from them, but our people never fired a gun until they had gained the Fort — most of the enemy were killed with Bayonets after our people were in the works — we had nine men killed, and about thirty or forty wounded. The enemy's loss was sixty killed and forty wounded — 447 rank and file marched out of the fort the next morning with twenty-four commissioned officers. Docf Auchmuty of New York was their surgeon — some few men made their escape in boats to the other side the River, others in attempting to swim were drowned — S. C. M. Johnson commanded the Britons. Gen- eral Wayne's party tis said consisted of about 4200 men. There were five deserters from us in the fort, three of which they hanged with little ceremony — 10 pieces of cannon, a large num- ber of small arms, with military stores of all kinds fell into our hands. Sunday we should have attacked the fort on this side the River, but General Clinton's arrival at Croton Bridge with a large force prevented it. It must otherwise have fallen into our hands soon. Your Friend and Brother Richard Sill. Digitized by Microsoft® Chapter XIX At the Gate of the Highlands JOHN PEAK, some time before 1685, Hved on a creek, or "kill," that has been ever afterwards called by his name. It was on the land claimed by Chief Sirham, sachem of the Sachus Indians, and became afterwards part of the broad manor of Cortlandt. Three hundred acres were bought in the year above mentioned, for the value of three hundred guilders in sea- want. The grounds of the New York State camp for military instruction occupy part of that purchase. The pleasant village of Peekskill has a memorable history, associated as it was during the War for Inde- pendence with important military movements. From its position, so near the lower gate of the Highlands, it was destined to be ridden over by both of the oppos- ing armies. We have spoken elsewhere of some of the more noteworthy occurrences of Revolutionary days, as they presented themselves in sequence with other events. Fort Independence occupied the point above, the stores and barracks that the British burned were near by, Washington once had his headquarters here 313 Digitized by Microsoft® 314 The Hudson River for a short time, and here old Israel Putnam com- manded in 1777. Paulding, one of the captors of BIRD S-EYE VIEW OF THE HUDSON FROM A PEAK IN THE HIGHLANDS f^Drawn hy IV. G. Wilson) Andre, was born in Peekskill and was buried there in ^1818. Andre himself stopped at the Wayside Inn on the day following his memorable interview with Arnold. Digitized by Microsoft® At the Gate of the Highlands 315 Washington made a flying visit to Peekskill after the battle of White Plains to reconnoitre; Lee came here while tardily and reluctantly obeying Washington's orders to advance into New Jersey. General Heath was then in command of the post and had received positive orders from Washington to retain all the troops then with him. General Lee, as Heath's senior in rank, ordered that two of the latter 's regiments at Continental Village should accompany his own troops across the river. Heath instantly refused to give the necessary directions, exclaiming, " I have received posi- tive written orders to the contrary. ' ' Lee replied that he would then give the orders him- self, to which Heath could not do otherwise than to assent. "That makes all the difference," he said. "You are my senior; but I will not myself break those orders." He then showed Lee General Washing- ton's letter of instructions, upon which his visitor made some-comrQent to the effect that being upon the ground he would feel at liberty to act according to his own judgment in the matter. He attempted then to give the order through Heath's adjutant, but the latter was sternly forbidden by his chief to have any part in the affair. "Sir," said he to Lee, "if you come to this post and mean to issue orders here which will break the positive ones I have received, I