accompanied Arnold in his memorable march to Quebec. He embarked with
about 230 men on board 13 whale-boats, and proceeded along the coast to
Guilford, where he was to cross the Sound. With about 170 of his
detachment, under convoy of two armed sloops, he proceeded (May 23,
1777) across the Sound to the north division of the island near
Southhold in the neighborhood of which a small foraging party against
which the expedition was in part directed, was supposed to lie, but
they had marched two days before to New York. The boats were conveyed
across the land, a distance of about fifteen miles, into a bay which
deeply intersects the eastern end of Long Island, where the troops re-
embarked. Crossing the bay they landed at 2 in the morning, about four
miles from Sag Harbor, which they completely surprised and carried with
charged bayonets. At the same time a division of the detachment secured
the armed schooner and the vessels laden with forage, which were set on
fire and entirely consumed. Six of the enemy were killed and ninety
taken prisoners. A very few escaped under cover of the night.

The object of his expedition being effected without the loss of a man,
Colonel Meigs returned to Guilford with his prisoners. "Having," as was
stated in the letter to General Parsons, "moved with such uncommon
celerity as to have transported his men by land and water 90 miles in
25 hours." Congress directed a sword to be presented to him, and passed
a resolution expressing the high sense entertained of his merit, and of
the prudence, activity, and valor displayed by himself and his party.

The exertions made by Washington through the winter to raise a powerful
army for the ensuing campaign had not been successful. The hopes
respecting its strength, which the flattering reports made from every
quarter had authorized him to form, were cruelly disappointed, and he
found himself not only unable to carry into effect the offensive