You are to take the Command of all the Troops remaining in this Department—consisting of the Two Regiments of New Hampshire, Ten of Massachusetts, & five of Connecticut Infantry—the Corps of Invalids, Sheldons Legion, the third Regiment of Artillery—together with all such State Troops & Militia as are retained in Service, of those which would have been under my own Comand.

The Security of West Point and the Posts in the High Lands is to be considered as the first Object of your Attention. In order to effect this, you will make such Dispositions, as in your Judgment, the Circumstances shall from Time to Time require; taking Care to have as large a Supply of salted Provisions as possible constantly on Hand—to have the Fortifications, Works and Magazines repaired & perfected as far as may be; to have the Garrison, at least, in all Cases, kept up to its present Strength; to have the minuter Plans & Arrangements for the Defence & Support of this important Post perfectly understood & vigorously executed in Case of any Attempt against it—Ample Magazines of Wood & Forage are to be laid in against the Approaching Winter; the former should be cut on the Margin of the River, & transported to the Garrison by Water; the latter ought to be collected from the Country below the Lines, in the greatest Quantities possible, & deposited in such Places as you shall judge proper.

The Force now put under your Orders it is presumed, will be sufficient for all the Purposes abovementioned; as well as to yield a very considerable protection & cover to the Country, without hazarding the Safety of the Posts in the Highlands—this is to be esteemed, as it respects the friendly Inhabitants & Resources of the Country—an extreamly interesting Object; but when compared with the former, of a secondary Nature—The protection of the Northern and Western Frontier of the State of N. York, as well as those Parts of that & other States most contiguous & exposed to the Ravages & Depredations of the Enemy, will claim your Attention—But as the Contingencies which are to be expected in the Course of this Campaign, may be so various, unforeseen, and almost infinite, that no particular Line of Conduct can be prescribed for them—upon all such Occasions, you will be governed by your own Prudence & Direction, on which the fullest Confidence is placed.

Altho your general Rule of Conduct will be to act on the defensive only, yet it is not meant to prohibit you from striking a Blow at the Enemys Posts or Detatchments, should a fair Opportunity present itself—The most eligible Position for your Army, in my Opinion, will be above (that is on the North side) of the Croton, as well for the Purpose of supporting the Garrison of West Point, annoying the Enemy, & covering the Country, as for the Security & repose of your own Troops. Waterbury’s Brigade (which maybe posted towards the Sound) Sheldons Corps, the State Troops of New York, and other light Parties, may occasionally be made Use of to hold the Enemy in Check, & carry on the Petit Guerre with them—but I would recomend keeping your Force as much collected & as compact as the Nature of the Service will admit, doing Duty by Corps, instead of Detatchments, whenever it is practicable—and above all exerting yourself most strenuously & assiduously, while the Troops are in a Camp of repose, to make them perfect in their Exercise & Maneuvres, & to establish the most perfect System of Discipline & Duty—the Good of the Service & Emulation of Corps, will I am perswaded, prompt the Officers & Men to devote their whole Time & Attention to the pleasing & honorable Task of becoming Masters of their Profession.

The Uncertainty which the present Movement of the Army will probably Occasion with the Enemy, ought to be encreased by every Means in your Power, & the Deception kept up as long as possible—It will not be expedient to prevent the Militia which were ordered, from coming in, until the Arrival of the Count de Grasse, or something definite & certain is known, from the Southward—and even then Circumstances may (but of this you will be advised) render it adviseable to keep the Enemy at New York in Check, to prevent their detatching to reinforce their Southern Army, or to harrass the Inhabitants on the Sea Coast.

The Redoubt on the East Side of Dobbs Ferry is to be dismantelled & demolished, the Platforms to be taken up, & transported up the River, if it can conveniently be done—The Block House on the other Side to be maintained or evacuated & Destroyed as you shall think proper—the Water Guards and other Precautions to prevent a Surprize, you will be pleased to take into your Consideration, & regulate in such a Manner as you shall judge most expedient—You will be pleased also to keep me regularly advised of every important Event which shall take Place in your Department. Given under my Hand at Head Quarters near Dobbs Ferry—this 19th Day of Augt 1781.