[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] Even should the enemy pursue their first plan of an invasion from Canada, the troops at Peeks-kill would not be badly placed to re-enforce Ticonderoga and cover the country around Albany." Heath was succeeded at Peeks-kill by Brigadier-General Mc-Dougall, who had commanded at the engagement on Chatterton's Hill. McDougall had scarcely become installed in the post when he was energetically attacked by the British— their first move of any im-portance in the year 1777. Howe, being informed of the existence of large depots of stores at and near Peekskill, decided to destroy them, and on the 23d of March, the river having become freed of ice, sent iip Colonel Bird for that purpose with 500 troops and four light field-pieces. Before the arrival of the expedition McDougall, being-informed of its coming, removed a portion of the stores to Ports Montgomery and Constitution. Bird landed his men and guns at Lent's Covej near Peekskill Village, whereupon McDougall, having at MARINCS WILLET. EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778 427 the time only about 250 men with him, burnt the barracks and store-houses at Peekskill and retired to the neighborhood of Continental Village in the mountain pass. The enemy did not think it wise to follow him to this point. McDougall was re-enforced soon afterward by a party from Fort Constitution under Lieutenant-Colonel Marinus Willet.