To these orders, explicit instructions were added not to hazard his party by remaining before Verplank's, after the British should cross Croton River in force.
[Illustration: The Ruins of Stony Point--On the Hudson _Here, on the night of July 16, 1779, Brigadier-General (Mad Anthony) Wayne led his troops up the hill in darkness, surprised the British garrison and captured this British stronghold at the point of the bayonet.

Not a shot was fired by the Americans, who lost fifteen killed and eighty-three wounded; the British sixty-three killed and 533 prisoners.

The fortifications were destroyed and the place, being untenable, was abandoned shortly afterwards by the Americans._] Through some unaccountable negligence in the persons charged with the execution of these orders, the battering artillery was not accompanied with suitable ammunition; and the necessary intrenching tools were not brought.

These omissions were supplied the next day; but it was then too late to proceed against Verplank's.
On receiving intelligence of the loss of Stony Point, and of the danger to which the garrison of fort Fayette was exposed, Sir Henry Clinton relinquished his views on Connecticut, and made a forced march to Dobbs' Ferry.

Some troops were immediately embarked to pass up the river, and a light corps was pushed forward to the Croton.