[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] This contrivance, besides being very costly, gave the American engineers a vast deal of trouble. On November 21, 1776, General Heath reported that it had li twice broke." Cables were stretched in front of the chain, says Irving, to break the force of any ship under way before she could strike it. 1 Thus there were two forts of this name In f erred to in the preceding pages) having br< n Westchester County, the other (frequently re-at Kingsbridge. 41(5 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY On the west side, beginning at the north, was Fort Montgomery. This was located directly opposite Anthony's Nose and just above a little stream called Poplopen's Creek. On the south side of the crook was Fort Clinton. These two strongholds, with the co-operation of Fort Independence below and the help of the obstructing chain, were deemed adequate to the protection of the river. II was considered impossible that the enemy would ever attempt to march through the diffieull passes south of Fori Clinton and attack that place and Fort Montgomery from the rear— although just such a contingency was foreseen by Washington while at Peekskill, and he had recommended the erection of a southerly fort on the west side. Still farther down, opposite Verplanck's Point, rose an eminence called Stony Point.