Sir Henry Clinton's ships moved on up the Hudson, and Putnam's and Clinton's troops followed. The British Commander caused Kingston to be burned, and here, receiving the news of Burgoyne's surrender, turned back. His army tarried a few days in the Highlands to complete the destruction of the forts, and then sailed to New York, and the militia returned home. The Indians on the western frontier of Orange and beyond were still nursing grievances against the colonists, and were easily won over to the British side by diplomatic agents. Their depredations began again in 1777, when the family of a Mr. Sprague in the northern part of the Minisink was attacked and some of them taken prisoners. Next they killed some of the family of a Mr. Brooks, and took the rest prisoners. In 1778 the upper Minisink was invaded by about 100 Indians, under the famous warrior chief, Brandt, and on Oct. 13 they attacked two dwellings, killed three persons and destroyed much grain and stock. The settlers repaired to the forts of Gumaer's and De Witt's, and the Indians after following and firing a few times at them from a distance, went away. The Committee of Safety for Minisink in 1778 consisted of Benjamin Depuy, Philip Swartwout and Ezekiel Gumaer, and they ordered the erection of five forts, three in the upper neighborhood, and two in the lower. These could not accommodate all of the fifty families in what is now Deer Park, and many women and children were sent to the older settlements. Scouting parties were sent out under command of Captain Bezaliel Tyler, and persons suspected of aiding the Indians were imprisoned or banished. Small companies of nine months militia were obtained to garrison the forts. [Illustration: Webb Horton]