what had happened on the
other side, to surrender, or prepare the way for an assault. But
some accidental delays, in bringing on the heavy cannon and
intrenching tools necessary for an operation of this kind,
unavoidably retarded its execution, till the approach of the
enemy's main body made it too late. General Howe, to avoid being
intercepted, found himself under the necessity of relinquishing
his project and returning to a place of security. I did not unite
the two attacks at the same time and in the same manner, because
this would have rendered the enterprize more complex, more liable
to suspicion, and less likely to succeed for want of an exact
co-operation, which could hardly have been expected.
When I came to examine the post at Stony Point, I found it (p. 018)
would require more men to maintain it than we could afford,
without incapacitating the army for other operations. In the
opinion of the engineer, corresponding with my own and that of
all the general officers present, not less than fifteen hundred
men would be requisite for its defence; and, from the nature of
the works, which were opened toward the river, a great deal of
labour and expense must have been incurred, and much time
employed to make them defensible by us. The enemy, depending on
their shipping to protect their rear, had constructed the works
solely against an attack by land. We should have had to apprehend
equally an attack by water, and must have inclosed the post.
While we were doing this, the whole army must have been in the
vicinity, exposed to the risk of a general action, on terms which
it would not be our interest to court, and too distant to assist
in carrying on the fortifications at West Point, or to support
them in case of necessity. These considerations made it a
unanimous sentiment to evacuate the post, remove the cannon and
stores, and destroy the works, which was accomplished on the
night of the 18th, one piece of heavy cannon only excepted. For
want of proper tackling within reach to transport the cannon by
land, we were obliged to send them to the fort by water. The
movements of the enemy's vessels created some uneasiness on their
account, and induced me to keep one of the pieces for their
protection, which finally could not be brought off without