Meanwhile, on July 12, 1776, the British warships HMS Phoenix and HMS Rose advanced north up the Hudson River past the Tappan Zee, blockading supplies to and from New York City and landing British expeditionary forces to punish, burn and pillage villages along the river. In response, a powerful civilian "Secret Committee" was assembled to formulate a defense strategy and execute "such measures as to them shall appear the most Effectual for Obstructing the Channel of Hudson's River, or annoying the Enemy's Ship in their navigation up the said River". The members chosen for this special body included Tappen (Ulster County), brothers Robert R. Livingston and Gilbert Livingston (Dutchess County), Robert Yates (Albany County), and John Jay and William Paulding (Westchester County). On July 22, the Committee appointed three agents to supervise "the making of a Chain to fix across Hudson's River at that most convenient place near Fort Montgomery and fixing that same, and if it should be found impracticable at or near the said Fort, then to fix the same at or near Fort Constitution." The Committee also tasked the agents with "the building and fitting out of Ten Fire Rafts and preparing such Vessels as they may be furnished with for Fire Ships", as well as for the making of 4000 Fire arrows to protect the Forts"."Secret Committee Appointment of Jacobus Van Zandt, Augustine Laurence, and Samuel Tudor, 22 July 1776," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-01-02-0171. Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 1, 1760–1779, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2010, pp. 280–281.
