y and artfully dealt by a British force from New
York, and the smitten garrison were scattered like frightened sheep
upon the mountains.'"

"Oh, papa, surely they didn't surrender without fighting at all?"
exclaimed Lulu.

"No indeed, daughter; they fought long and desperately. General James
Clinton and his brother George were their commanders. As I have told
you before, I think, General Clinton established his headquarters at a
place called Washington Square, about four miles west of the village
of New Windsor, and there collected his dispersed troops preparatory
to marching to the relief of Kingston, then threatened by the enemy."

"But they didn't get there in time to save it from being burned by the
British," said Edward Leland. "What dreadful times those were!"

"Yes," said Grandma Elsie; "we may be very thankful that we live in
these better days. And in the best and freest country in the world;
which it wouldn't have been, if God had not been for us in those days
of trial."

It was a pleasant morning, and all sat under an awning on the deck,
preferring it as the breeziest spot and affording the best view of
the beautiful country on either side with its many historical
associations. Captain Raymond drew attention to Verplanck's and Stony
points as they passed them.

"Yonder is Verplanck's Point," he said; "and there, overlooking the
river, stood, in Revolutionary times, Fort Fayette; and yonder, on the
other side, is Stony Point, where was another small fort. They were
captured by Sir Henry Clinton on the 1st of June, 1779. The garrison
of Stony Point consisted of only forty men, and that at Verplanck's of
seventy, commanded by Captain Armstrong. The British flotilla was
commanded by Admiral Collier. The troops landed in two divisions on
the morning of May 31--the one, under Vaughan, on the east side eight
miles below Verplanck's; the other, under Clinton, on the west side a
little above Haverstraw. There was no fight at Stony Point, as the
garrison retired to the Highlands, knowing that the forces of the
enemy were too overwhelming to be successfully resisted. The British
took possession; dragged up cannon and mortars during the night;
pointed them and the guns found in the fortress toward Fort Fayette,
and in the morning began a heavy cannonade upon it. At the same time
the fort was attacked in the rear by Vaughan and his troops, and the
little garrison surrendered themselves prisoners of war.

"The loss