George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-07-02-0131

To George Washington from Colonel Rufus Putnam, 19 November 1776

From Colonel Rufus Putnam

Peaks Kiln [N.Y.] November 19th 1776

Sir

Sence your Exelency left this place I have Ben to Antonies Nose & I Beleve there is no danger of the Enimys attempting to possess it Nor will it Be Nesessary we Should occupye it.1 I have also Ben a Toure up peaks kiln Hallow about Eleven mile N. Eastward then through the High lands Into the Fishkiln Country and down to the North River then Returned by the Poast Road which I found to be good But the pass I went up in for ten mile no Carrage Can posabely git through and a few men in a short time will make it Impassable for a Horse[.] about foure mile further East is another pass through the mountains but I am Informed by good authority it is much Worse then the last mentioned one—I am told there is another pass about 20 mile from the Peaks kiln Landing leading from bed ford2 through the High Lands which is Said to be a good Roade[.] I mean to See it as Soon as Posable[.] I am fully Convinced your Exelency will find it Necessary to keep a post at Crotons Bridge which if you design[,] Some Care Should be taken of Building Barrack and Stoar there—I mean to git a general knowledge of the country as far East as Horse neck3 and Northward through the High lands a draft of Which as Soon as posable I Shall forward Not Waiting for an actual Survey as that will take up much time. I am your Exelencys most obedient Humble Servent

Rufus Putnam

ALS, DLC:GW; ADf, OMC. The draft is dated “November 1776.”

The text of the draft differs greatly from the text of the ALS. The draft reads: “Sence your Exelency Left this place I have Ben to Antonies Nose and I Beleave there is no danger of the Enimy atempting to posess it: I Returned this day from a Toure up peaks kiln Hallow about Eleven mile N. Eastward then through the High Lands into the fish kiln Country and down to the N. River then Returned by the Poste Roade[.] I have the Pleasure to Inform you that I think it Imposable for a Carrage to pass the High lands by this Eastern Pass But it may be well to have a guard keept Here abouts as there is a Number of Torys Sheltering them Selves in these mountains Waiting an oppertunity to git to the Ministeral Army[.] about 4 mile further East is another Pass through the Mountains But I am Informed by good authority that this is much Worse then the Last mentioned one[.] another Pass about 20 mile from the peaks kiln landing Leading from bedford through the High lands the[y] tel me is a Very good one[.] this I mean to See to morrow[.] the Barracks and other works Here are Pushing as fast as Posable[.] I have desired Lt [Thomas] Mechin to Strenghen the Posts on the River by Redoubt and other out Works as much as Posable. I am more then Ever Convinced of the Necessity of keeping a post at Croton or Pine Bridge as a protection to that part of the Country from and through which Supplys must be Drawn for this Post and also as a means to prevent the Enimy from makeing any Excrustions [excursions] during the Winter for the purpos of gitting Supplys[.] Shall after my next toure be able to Send your Exelency a Ruff Draft of this part of the Country which I Shall Loose no time in Performing.”

1For a description of Anthony’s Nose, a 900–foot-high promontory on the east side of the Hudson River opposite Fort Montgomery, see Stirling to GW, 1 June 1776.

2Bedford, N.Y., is about twenty miles southeast of Peekskill.

3Horseneck is Greenwich, Connecticut.

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