The British general had serious thoughts of breaking off the treaty.] {October 8.} General Putnam, whose army had been augmented by reinforcements of militia to six thousand men, detached General Parsons with two thousand, to repossess himself of Peekskill, and of the passes in the highlands; while, with the residue, he watched the progress of the enemy up the river.

The want of heavy artillery prevented his annoying their ships in the Hudson.
On the capitulation of Burgoyne, near five thousand men had been detached by Gates to his aid.

Before their arrival, General Vaughan had returned to New York, whence a reinforcement to General Howe was then about to sail.
Great as was the injury sustained by the United States from this enterprise, Great Britain derived from it no solid advantage.

It was undertaken at too late a period to save Burgoyne; and though the passes in the highlands were acquired, they could not be retained.

The British had reduced to ashes every village, and almost every house within their power; but this wanton and useless destruction served to irritate, without tending to subdue.