[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] It can not, however, be said of the main American position at Peekskill, as of the enemy's at Kingsbridge, that it was one upon which its possessors could rest in calm and undisturbed confidence and without reference to any of the ordinary possible developments of general strategy. Because of the natural location of New York City, with all its surrounding waters controlled by the fleet and only the position at Kingsbridge open to practicable attack, the British could abide there in-definitely without apprehen-sion of any secret or sudden American designs. In order to make a formidable campaign on New York City — which could proceed only by way of Kingsbridge, a point not to be reached except by a long march down the Westches-ter County peninsula, and not to be deliberately assailed without the previous concen-tration of all of Washington's forces — the Americans would have had to lay bare their intentions weeks in advance. How different the situation at Peekskill It could always be surprised by a river expedition from New York City, with but the briefest possi-ble foreknowledge on Washington's part. It was a point of supreme importance, but only one among several. He therefore had to dis-tribute his forces, uncertain where the enemy's next blow would fall, but at all times convinced that he would seek sooner or later to push up the Hudson River.