Nothing had so much annoyed Putnam and his officers during the campaign of the previous summer on the Hudson than the desertions which had thinned the ranks, and the Tory spies who frequented the camps and conveyed information to the enemy. To put a stop to this it had been determined that the next offender(s) of either sort captured should suffer death as an example.

On February 4th, 1779 Edmond Jones, previously from Ridgefield, was tried at a General Court Martial, found guilty of being a spy, and was accordingly sentenced to death by hanging.

General Putnam determined to execute both persons at once...... "make a double job of it," The lofty hill dominating the valley and the camps (known to this day as Gallows Hill) was chosen as the scene of the executions. Following the hanging/shooting, every soldier of the three brigades was ordered to march by a look at the mangled remains.