[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] proceed up the Hudson River along its west bank and take posses-sion of the Highlands. In the case of an intended capture of Forts Washington and Lee it was manifestly impossible to do anything more toward retaining those positions than had already been done, as both of them were well garrisoned and it would have been inju-dicious to deplete the army for their further protection. But it was necessary without delay to provide for thwarting the other two pos-sible objects of Howe. At a council of Avar held on the 6th it was unanimously agreed to so distribute the army as to have a portion of it available for confronting Howe whithersoever he might go — to retain a part in the encampment at North Castle, to dispatch another part into New Jersey, and to establish a third part in the neighborhood of Peekskill as a guard for the Highlands. Conforma-bly with this decision Washington on the 9th detached 3,000 men under General Heath to Peekskill and removed 5,000 to New Jersey under the temporary charge of General Putnam, intending to assume this command personally within a few days, and on the 10th he com-mitted to General Loo the command of the North Castle residue, at that time about T.oOO.