The formal assignments of commands to posts and departments, at this time, indicate his judgment of their relative value and exposure: “Nine brigades are disposed on the west side of the Hudson River, exclusive of the garrison of West Point; one of which will be near Smith’s Clove, for the security of that pass, and as a reënforcement to West Point, in case of necessity. The Jersey brigade is ordered to spend the winter at Elizabethtown, to cover the lower parts of New Jersey. Seven brigades, consisting of the Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania troops, will be at Middlebrook; six brigades will be left on the east side of the river and at West Point; three of which (of Massachusetts troops) will be stationed for the immediate defence of the Highlands,—one at West Point, in addition to the garrison already there, and the other two at Fishkill and Continental Village. The remaining three brigades, composed of the New Hampshire and Connecticut troops, and Hazen’s Regiment, will be posted in the vicinity of Danbury, for the protection of the country lying along the Sound; to cover our magazines lying on Connecticut river; and to aid the Highlands, on any serious movement of the enemy that way. The park of artillery will be at Pluckemin; the cavalry will be disposed of thus: Bland’s Regiment at Winchester, Va.” The significance of this last assignment will be apparent, if it be remembered that the Hessian troops, captured at Saratoga, preferred to remain in America; so that, when Burgoyne’s army reached Cambridge for transportation to England, the foreign troops were sent to Virginia. Some threats had reached the ever-attentive ear of the American Commander-in-Chief, that an attempt would be made to release this command and employ it in the field, at the south. Of the other cavalry squadrons, Baylis’ was to occupy Frederick, or Hagerstown, Md.; Sheldon’s, to be at Durham, Conn.; and Lee’s Corps, (Col. Harry Lee), “will be with that part of the army which is in the Jerseys, acting on the advanced posts.” General Putnam was assigned to command at Danbury, General McDougall, in the Highlands; and general headquarters were to be near Middlebrook. No extensive field operations took place in the Northern States, after the Battle of Monmouth. Several restricted excursions were made, which kept the American Commander-in-Chief on the watch for the Highland posts; but these became less and less frequent as the year 1778 drew near its close. The British cabinet ordered five thousand of Clinton’s troops to the West Indies, and three thousand more to Florida.