called, by which we sailed; the enemy, strange
to say, being for once unaware of the movement we contemplated. Our
first landing was on the Eastern bank, at a place called Verplancks
Point, whence the Congress troops withdrew after a slight resistance,
their leader, the tough old Putnam (so famous during the war) supposing
that our march was to be directed towards the Eastern Highlands, by
which we intended to penetrate to Burgoyne. Putnam fell back to occupy
these passes, a small detachment of ours being sent forward as if in
pursuit, which he imagined was to be followed by the rest of our force.
Meanwhile, before daylight, two thousand men without artillery, were
carried over to Stoney Point on the Western shore, opposite Verplancks,
and under a great hill called the Dunderberg by the old Dutch lords of
the stream, and which hangs precipitously over it. A little stream
at the northern base of this mountain intersects it from the opposite
height on which Fort Clinton stood, named not after our general, but
after one of the two gentlemen of the same name, who were amongst the
oldest and most respected of the provincial gentry of New York, and who
were at this moment actually in command against Sir Henry. On the next
height to Clinton is Fort Montgomery; and behind them rises a hill
called Bear Hill; whilst at the opposite side of the magnificent stream
stands "Saint Antony's Nose," a prodigious peak indeed, which the Dutch
had quaintly christened.

The attacks on the two forts were almost simultaneous. Half our men were
detached for the assault on Fort Montgomery, under the brave Campbell,
who fell before the rampart. Sir Henry, who would never be out of danger
where he could find it, personally led the remainder, and hoped, he
said, that we should have better luck than before the Sullivan Island. A
path led up to the Dunderberg, so narrow as scarcely to admit three men
abreast, and in utter silence our whole force scaled it, wondering at
every rugged step to meet with no opposition. The enemy had not even
kept a watch on it; nor were we descried until we were descending the
height, at the base of which we easily dispersed a small force sent
hurriedly to oppose us. The firing which here took place rendered all
idea of a surprise impossible. The fort was before us. With such arms
as the troops had in their hands, they had to assault; and silently
and swiftly, in the face of the artillery playing upon them, the troops
asc