About noon on the 10th of
October
There Governor Clinton had his headquarters . He and his brother were in command of Forts Clinton and Montgomery , among the Hudson Highlands , when the British succeeded in taking them in spite of the desperate defence of the American patriots . It was then General Clinton established his headquarters at the house of Mrs. Falls and collected his dispersed troops preparatory to marching to the defence of Kingston . About noon on the 10th of October a horseman came riding up into the camp in great haste . The sentinel challenged him . `` He replied , ` I am a friend and wish to see General Clinton . ' `` The man was a Tory , bearing a message from Sir Henry Clinton to Burgoyne , who was at that time hedged up in Saratoga .