[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] be ordered there in case of neces-sity. On the 10th of August all uncertainty was ended by the reap-pearance of the fleet below Phila-delphia. From that time until his retirement to winter quarters at Valley Forge, he was engaged in a tremendous struggle with Howe around Philadelphia. This campaign included the battles of the Brandywine (September 11). and Germantown (October 4), and the fall of' Philadelphia, which Howe entered on the 25th of September. After Washington, resolving his doubts, marched off to Philadel-phia, Putnam, commanding at Peekskill, was let alone by the British for two months. This did not suit the old lighter's temperament. He longed for action, and if the enemy would not come after him, he saw no reason why he should not go after the enemy. He planned a variety of chimerical attacks— on New York, Long Island, Paulns Hook (Jersey City), and even Staten Island; and doubtless he felt much aggrieved at the coldness with which Washington viewed his GENERAL PUTNAM. 432 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY aggressive ideas. The latter, before Howe's object was revealed, had seconded a scheme of Putnam's for a night expedition against Kings-bridge by way of Spuyten Duyvil Creek; but after the campaign was begun he deemed it the height of folly to employ the forces at Peek-skill in any mere diversions.