5 o’clock in the afternoon on both forts.  Lossing says:  “The garrisons were composed mostly of untrained militia.  They behaved nobly, and kept up the defense vigorously, against a greatly superior force of disciplined and veteran soldiers, until twilight, when they were overpowered, and sought safety in a scattered retreat to the neighboring mountains.  Many escaped, but a considerable number were slain or made prisoners.  The Governor fled across the river in a boat, and at midnight was with General Putnam at Continental Village, concerting measures for stopping the invasion.  James, forcing his way to the rear, across the highway bridge, received a bayonet wound in the thigh, but safely reached his home at New Windsor.  A sloop of ten guns, the frigate “Montgomery”—­twenty-four guns—­and two row-galleys, stationed near the boom and chain for their protection, slipped their cables and attempted to escape, but there was no wind to fill their sails, and they were burned by the Americans to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy.  The frigate “Congress,” twenty-eight guns, which had already gone up the river, shared the same fate on the flats near Fort Constitution, which was abandoned.  By the light of the burning vessels the fugitive garrisons made their way over the rugged mountains, and a large portion of them joined General Clinton at New Windsor the next day.  They had left many of their brave companions behind, who, to the number of 250, had been slain or taken prisoners.  The British, too, had parted with many men and brave officers.  Among the latter was Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell.  Early in the morning of the 7th of October, the river obstructions between Fort Montgomery and Anthony’s Nose, which cost the Americans $250,000, were destroyed, and a light flying squadron, commanded by Sir James Wallace, and bearing a large number of land troops under General Vaughan, sailed up the river on a marauding expedition, with instructions from Sir Henry to scatter desolation in their paths.  It was hoped that such an expedition would draw troops from the Northern army for the protection of the country below, and thereby assist Burgoyne.”

* * *

  I love thy tempests when the broad-winged blast
    Rouses thy billows with his battle call,
  When gathering clouds, in phalanx black and vast
    Like armed shadows gird thy rocky wall.

  Knickerbocker Magazine.

* * *

Sir Henry Clinton, who had been advised by General Burgoyne that he must be relieved by October 12th, sent a messenger announcing his victory.  Another of the many special providences of the American Revolution now occurs.  The messenger blundered into the American camp, where some soldiers sat in British uniform, and found out too late that he was among enemies instead of friends.  As Irving relates the incident in his “Life of Washington”: