Having surveyed the ground, Washington ordered works to be thrown up at the passes from the neck to the mainland. The British also threw up a work at the end of the causeway. In the afternoon nine ships, with a great number of schooners, sloops, and flat-bottomed boats full of men, passed through Hell Gate, towards Throg’s Point; and information received from two deserters, gave Washington reason to believe that the greater part of the enemy’s forces were gathering in that quarter. General McDougall’s brigade, in which were Colonel Smallwood and the independent companies, was sent in the evening to strengthen Heath’s division at King’s Bridge, and to throw up works opposite the ford of Harlem River. Greene, who had heard of the landing of the enemy at Throg’s Neck, wrote over to Washington, from Fort Constitution, informing him that he had three brigades ready to join him if required. “If the troops are wanted over your side,” said he, “or likely to be so, they should be got over in the latter part of the night, as the shipping may move up from below, and impede, if not totally stop the troops from passing. The tents upon Staten Island,” he added, “had all been struck, as far as could be ascertained.” It was plain the whole scene of action was changing. On the 14th, General Lee arrived in camp, where he was welcomed as the harbinger of good luck. Washington was absent, visiting the posts beyond King’s Bridge, and the passes leading from Throg’s Neck; Lee immediately rode forth to join him. No one gave him a sincerer greeting than the commander-in-chief; who, diffident of his own military knowledge, had a high opinion of that of Lee. He immediately gave him command of the troops above King’s Bridge, now the greatest part of the army, but desired that he would not exercise it for a day or two, until he had time to acquaint himself with the localities and arrangements of the post; Heath, in the interim, held the command. Lee was evidently elevated by his successes at the South, and disposed to criticise disparagingly the military operations of other commanders. In a letter, written on the day of his arrival to his old associate in arms, General Gates, he condemns the position of the army, and censures Washington for submitting to the dictation of Congress, whose meddlesome instructions had produced it. “_Inter nos_,” writes he, “the Congress seem to stumble every step. I do not mean one or two of the cattle, but the whole stable. I have been very free in delivering my opinion to them. In my opinion General Washington is much to blame in not menacing ’em with resignation, unless they refrain from unhinging the army by their absurd interference. “Keep us Ticonderoga; much depends upon it. We ought to have an army in the Delaware. I have roared it in the ears of Congress, but _carent auribus_. Adieu, my dear friend; if we do meet again—why, we shall smile.”[123]