known to Anthony Wayne than to the modern tourist, passes through Doodletown, over Dunderberg, just west of Tompkin’s Cove, to Haverstraw.  Here amid these pleasant foothills Morse laid the scene of a historical romance, which he however happily abandoned for a wider invention.  The world can get along without the novel, but it would be a trifle slow without the telegraph.  On the west bank, directly opposite the railroad tunnel which puts a merry “ring” into the tip of Anthony’s Nose, is what is now known as Highland Lake, called by the Indians “Sinnipink,” and by the immediate descendants of our Revolutionary fathers “Hessian Lake” or “Bloody Pond,” from the fact that an American company were mercilessly slaughtered here by the Hessians, and, after the surrender of Fort Montgomery, their bodies were thrown into the lake.

* * *

  Behold again the wildwood shade,
  The mountain steep, the checkered glade,
  And hoary rocks and bubbling rills,
  And pointed waves and distant hills.

  Robert C. Sands.

* * *

The capture of Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery was two years before Mad Anthony’s successful assault on Stony Point.  Early in the history of the Revolution, the British Government thought that it would be possible to cut off the eastern from the middle and southern Colonies by capturing and garrisoning commanding points along the Hudson and Lake Champlain.  It was therefore decided in London, in the spring of 1777, to have Sir Henry Clinton approach from the south and Burgoyne from the north.  Reinforcements, however, arrived late from England and it was September before Clinton transported his troops, about 4,000 in number, in warships and flat-boats up the river.  Governor George Clinton was in charge of Fort Montgomery, and his brother James of Fort Clinton, while General Putnam, with about 2,000 men, had his headquarters at Peekskill.  In addition to these forts, a chain was stretched across the Hudson from Anthony’s Nose to a point near the present railroad bridge, to obstruct the British fleet.  General Putnam, however, became convinced that Sir Henry Clinton proposed to attack Fort Independence.  Most of the troops were accordingly withdrawn from Forts Montgomery and Clinton, when Sir Henry Clinton, taking advantage of a morning fog, crossed with 2,000 men at King’s Ferry.  Guided by a sympathizer of the British cause, who knew the district, he crossed the Dunderberg Mountain by the road just indicated.  One division of 900 moving on Fort Montgomery, and another of 1,100 on Fort Clinton.  Governor Clinton in the meantime ordered 400 soldiers to Fort Montgomery, and his reconnoitering party, met by the Hessians, fell back upon the fort, fighting as it retreated.  Governor Clinton sent to General Putnam for reinforcements, but it is said that the messenger deserted, so that Putnam literally sat waiting in camp, unconscious of the enemy’s movements.  A simultaneous attack was made at