d from their
ships.

General Howe having stopped here, and General Carleton at Crown Point,
effectually disappointed the great object of joining the two armies.
The latter, as we have said, returning to Canada, and the former
retreating from the White Plains towards New York, gave us a favorable
prospect of seeing a happy end put to this dangerous campaign, however
many causes have concurred in producing an unlucky reverse of fortune,
such as the nature of the country, the uncommon fineness of the
weather, even to this day, and, above all, the short enlistments,
which gave the soldiery an opportunity of going home, tired as they
were with the operations of an active summer.

When General Howe retreated from the White Plains, he halted his whole
army on the North River, between Dobbs' Ferry and Kingsbridge, where
he remained for some time. Having effected so little of the great
business that brought him here, and the season allowing him time for
it, most men were of opinion, that the next attempt would be, to get
possession of Philadelphia by a forced march through the Jerseys,
whilst a fleet should be sent up the Delaware to facilitate the
enterprise. To guard against such a manoeuvre, General Washington
crossed the North River with all the battalions, that had been raised
to the westward of it, leaving General Lee, with the eastern troops,
to guard the pass of the Highlands on Hudson River. In this situation
of things, General Howe made a sudden attack upon Fort Washington,
with the greatest part of his army, and carried it with considerable
loss, making nearly three thousand of our men prisoners. By this
event, it became unnecessary longer to hold Fort Lee, or Fort
Constitution, as it was formerly called, which is on the west side of
the North River, nearly opposite Fort Washington. It had therefore
been determined to abandon Fort Lee, but before the stores could be
all removed, the enemy came suddenly upon it, and the garrison
retreated, leaving some of their baggage and stores behind.

About this time General Howe became possessed of a letter, (by the
agency of some wicked person, who contrived to get it from the
express) written by General Washington to the Board of War, in which
he had given an exact account when the time of service of all our
battalions would expire, and his apprehensions, that the men would not
re-enlist without first going home to see their families and friends.
Possessed of this intelligen