[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] were given which entitled them to reimbursement upon application to the proper army authorities. CHAPTEK XIX THE STRATEGIC SITUATION — THE NEUTRAL GROUND I Til the breaking up of the North Castle camp and the de-parture of Lee, the military situation in Westchester County assumed a very simple complexion. Only the two extreme positions, Kingsbridge and Peekskill, remained in the possession of any considerable body of troops. The former place preserved, under British domination, all the im-portance attached to it while held by the Americans. It was the key to New York City, which, until the end of the war, continued to be the principal and indeed only reliable base for the British forces in America. It is true that Newport (K, I.) was taken in the winter of 177(5, Philadelphia in (he fall of 1777, and various important Southern points at later periods. But all these were occupied only by isolated, temporary, or shifting British commands. New York alone, from the beginning to (he end of its possession by the enemy, was held without incidental disturbance on the part of the Americans or in-