USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester County, New York, from its earliest settlement to the year 1900 > Part 54
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We had proceeded (he says) to an island, which was separated from the enemy posted on Long Island, by an arm of the sea, the width of which General Washington wished to have measured. While our engineers performed this geometrical operation, worn out by fatigue, we slept at the foot of a hedge, under tire from the eannon of the enemy's vessels, who wished to hinder the work. Awakening first, I ealled General Washington and remarked to him that we had forgotten the hour of the tide. We bastoned to the causeway of the mill upon which we had crossed this little arm of the sea which separated us from the main land; it was covered with water. They brought us two little boats, in which we embarked, with the sad- dles and trappings of the horses; then they sent back two American dragoons, who drew by the bridle two horses, good swimmers. These were followed by all the rest, urged on by the lashes of some dragoons remaining on the other shore, and for whom we sent back the boats. This maneuver consumed less than an hour, but happily our embarrassment was unnoticed by the enemy,
The "island " was evidently Throgg's Neck, that land of mystery and confusion for impetuous generals-in-chief, where the ourushing Sir William Howe had experienced infinitely more vexations embar- rassments at the beginning of his Westchester campaign of 1776.
One result of the reconnaissance was the breaking up of the post of de Lancey's Refugees at Morrisania. Washington had hoped to capture this redonbrable partisan and his troopers, but, as on the 3d. de Lancey elnded the force seni against him.
On the night of the 23d the whole American and French forces returned to Dobbs Ferry.
There is an abundance of proof that the reconnoissance of New York was a perfectly sincere proceeding on Washington's part, and that at the time he fully intended to follow it up with a regular siege in the case that the fleet of de Grasse should make its appearance in New York Bay. Moreover, he earnestly desired that de Grasse should come there. Previously to the junction of the armies at Dobbs Ferry he had written to de Grasse, urging him to steer a straight course for Sandy Hook ; and on July 19, at a conference with Rochambean. he expressed himself as follows: " Upon the whole, I do not see
1 Les Françals et Amerique pendant la Guerre de l'Independence des États-I'nis.
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what more can be done than to proseente the plan agreed upon at the Weathersfield conference, and to recommend to the Count de Grasse to come immediately to Sandy Hook, and, if possible, possess the harbor of New York." But he remained in complete uncertainty as to de Grasse's intentions until the middle of August. He accord- ingly stayed in his Dobbs Ferry encampment awaiting intelligence.
In this connection he adopted a measure to procure the speediest possible information of the arrival of the fleet if Sandy Hook should prove to be the destination of de Grasse. On July 21-the day when he set out to reconnoiter New York-he addressed the following auto- graph letter (whose original is now in the possession of the editor of this History) to Brigadier-General David Forman1 at Monmouth, N. J .:
Head Quarters, Dobbs Ferry, 21st July, 1781.
Dear Sir :- When I request your particular Care of the enelosed, it is necessary that I should inform you in the fullest confidence, and under the strictest injunetions of secresy, that the Count de Grasse may be shortly expected with his whole fleet from the West Indies. Whether he will first appear off the Hook or the Capes of Virginia is uncertain-You will be pleased immediately, upon the receipt of this, to employ proper persons to keep a look out. The Moment that a Fleet of heavy Ships is discovered you will dispatch an express to me, and as soon as you can aseertain whether they are friends or Foes, another; If they prove to be the former you will oblige me by going on board the Admiral and presenting the letter herewith. I have mentioned you to him as a Gentleman in whom he may place the fullest confidence. That intelligence may be communicated from you to me with the utmost dis- patch you will be pleased to take some of the militia Horse into pay and station them at such distances between Monmouth and Dobbs Ferry that they may perform the ride in twelve or fifteen hours. The Horsemen need not know the particular purpose for which they are sta- tioned, but they must be ordered never to be a moment absent from their stages except when upon duty. The expense attending those and the persons who keep a look out I will be an- swerable for. You will be so good as to give me by the return of this, or in the chain which you shall establish, the present situation, number, strength, and station of the Enemy's Ships -and as particular information of this kind may be very useful aml consequential to me and to our French Allies-I beg you will continue to keep me informed from time to time of any alterations which take place, either respeeting their increase or decrease of numbers and strength, their different positions, and partienlar stations, within or without the Hook, that we may lose no advantages or suffer any misfortune for want of perfect information of the Enemy's strength, Positions, or movements-I am with respect,
Dear Sir Your most obedient servant. G. Washington.
This communication is strong evidence of the entire good faith of the reconnaissance begun the day after it was written. Every other known circumstance demonstrates that Washington, in the condi-
1 General David Forman commanded a bri- gade in the New Jersey militia. His younger brother, Colonel Jonathan Forman, was at the head of a regiment in the New Jersey line, and after the war became the first president of the Order of the Cinelunati in New Jersey. Both were animated by the loftiest spirit of patriotism, served throughout the Revolution,
and enjoyed the peculiar confidence of Wash ington. Colonel Jonathan Forman had a sister Eleanor, who married Philip Freeman: and in after years Colonel Forman's daughter Mary berame the wife of Henry Seymour, of Utica, and the mother of Governor Horatio Seymour. Colonel Forman was an ancestor of the editor of this History.
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tions existing at that time and for some days subsequently, was quite serious in menacing New York. But those conditions underwent a change in several radical regards.
First, Clinton was re-enforced at New York by 3,000 Hessians from Europe, while on the other hand Washington received no re-enforce- ments at Dobbs Ferry, although he was anxiously expecting some to arrive from New England. Next, news came from Virginia which altered the whole complexion of things there. Cornwallis, finding his position perilous in the interior of that State, was retreating to Yorktown, with the intention of intrenching himself there. At this juncture, should de Grasse enter the Chesapeake instead of New York Harbor, Cornwallis would be caught between the American fleet and the Southern American land forces, in which eventuality it would become highly expedient for Washington and Rochambeau to pro- ceed quickly to Yorktown. And meantime Clinton at New York dared not send relief to Cornwallis, but was obliged to look to his own safety. Thus the first part of Washington's plan, as conceived at Weatherstield, was already realized: by beginning a campaign on New York he had eased matters in Virginia. It remained to be seen whether the further changes in the situation would justify him in actually besieging New York or summon him to Virginia for the annihilation of Cornwallis. The determining thing would be news from the fleet.
Washington's movements in Westchester County made such an impression on Sir Henry Clinton that the latter not only did not re- enforce Cornwallis, but actually ordered troops to be sent to New York from the South. On July 26 he wrote to Cornwallis to have three regiments dispatched to New York from the Carolinas, saying: " I shall probably want them, as well as the troops you may be able to spare me from the Chesapeake, for such offensive or defensive opera- tions as may offer in this quarter." The order was countermanded after the coming of the 3,000 Hessians, but it shows how promptly the presence of the allied armies in our county bore fruit. Wash- ington wrote to Lafayette on this point: " I think we have already effected one part of the plan of campaign settled at Weathersfield- that is, giving a substantial relief to the Southern States by oblig- ing the enemy to recall a considerable part of their force from them. Our views must now be turned toward endeavoring to expel them totally from those States if we find ourselves incompetent to the siege of New York." But in spite of the re-enforcements which Clinton had received, Washington had no intention of abandoning New York until the situation should become more clearly defined. While waiting to hear from the fleet, he wrote to the governors of
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the New England States complaining of their failure to send him more troops. " I am unable," he said, " to advance with prudence beyond my present position. While perhaps in the general opinion my force is equal to the commencement of operations against New York, my condnet must appear, if not blamable, highly mysterious at least. Our allies, who were made to expect a very considerable augmentation of force by this time, instead of seeing a prospect of advancing must conjecture upon good grounds that the campaign will waste fruitlessly away." This letter certainly evidences a very earnest purpose to carry out the New York campaign on its merits.
On the 31st of July Washington wrote another letter of explicit instructions to General Forman on the subject of the expected French fleet, as follows:
Head Quarters, Dobbs Ferry, 31st July, 1781.
Sir :- I have requested Capt. Dobbs to assemble at Capt. Dennis's in Baskenridge as soon as possible a Number of Pilots, who are to receive their further instructions from you. Im- mediately upon the appearance of a Fleet near Sandy Hook, if you are satisfied it is the one we are expecting, you will please to give orders to the Pilots to repair down where they may be at Hand to be improved as oeeasion and Cireminstanees shall require.
I am very fearful) that you have met with more Trouble in establishing the Chain of ex- presses than you expected-as I have not had the Pleasure of hearing from you since your first Favor of 23d inst .- and I am informed from N. York that a Heet with part of the Army of Lord Cornwallis from Virginia arrived at that Place last Tuesday. My Anxiety to be carly and well informed of the Enemy's movements by Water induces me to wish to hear from you as often and as speedily as any material Circumstanees renders it necessary .- I am Sir
Your most obedient Servant, G. Washington.
And again on the 5th of August Washington wrote to Forman in terms indicating that he was still looking for de Grasse. "1 lasi night," he said, " received yours of the 3d instant. Graves's [ British ] Fleet was certainly off Block Island a few days ago. It is supposed he has taken that position to cover the Quebee ships as they pass along. and at the same time give those which may be expected from Virginia an opportunity of making their voyage safely. I am not acquainted with the private signals of M. de Grasse, but I think it may soon be discovered, upon the appearance of a Fleet, whether they are Friends or Foes. If the latter, they will immediately send in a light ship, or one will come ont to them." In this letter he also expressed appre- hension that Forman's expresses from Monmouth might be inter- cepted by small parties of the enemy, and directed thai a new and less exposed route for them be established. It is well known that Washington, as soon as he decided on the move to Virginia, took pains to have certain decoy dispatches fall into the hands of the enemy, in order that Clinton should credit him with no other inten- tion than to fall upon New York. His care in altering the route of
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Forman's expresses so as to provide for their security shows how perfectly serions were his calculations with reference to de Grasse's possible advent at Sandy Hook as late as the 5th of August. Con- elusive proof on this point is also afforded by the following item in his " Accounts with the United States," dated August, 1781: "To Cash advand Cap Dobbs & other Pilots, to carry them to Monmouth City to await the arrival of the French Fleet-hourly expected, £18 13s 4d [lawful currency ]."
As he relates in his Journal, under date of August 1, Washington, while encamped at Dobbs Ferry, made arrangements for bringing down to that place from points on the upper Hudson some two hun- dred boats, to be used doubtless for transporting a large part of his forces through the Spuyten Duyvil Creek and landing them at points on Manhattan Island. " By this date," he says, " all my boats were ready, viz .: One hundred new ones at Albany (constructed under the direction of General Schuyler), and the like number at Wapping's Creek, by the quartermaster-general; besides old ones, which have been repaired."
On the 6th of August he supplemented the grand reconnaissance of the 220 of July by carefully reconnoitering the country from Dobbs Ferry to Yonkers. The following is his own account of this proceed- ing, extracted from his Journal:
Reeonnoitered the roads and country between the North River and the Bronx, from the Camp to Philipse's, and found the ground everywhere strong; the hills, four in number, run- ning parallel with each other, with deep ravines between them, occasioned by the Sawmill River, the Sprain Branch, and another more easterly.
These hills have very few interstices or breaks in them, but are more prominent in some places than others. The Sawmill River and the Sprain Branch occasion an entire separa- tion of the hills above Philipse's from those below, commonly called Valentine's Ilills. A strong position might be taken with the Sawmill (by the Widow Babeoek's) in front and on the left Hank, and this position may be extended from the Sawmill River over the Sprain Branch.
On August 14 the anxiously expected message from de Grasse reached Rochambean and Washington at Dobbs Ferry. In this im portant document (brought by the frigate " Concorde" from the West Indies to Newport, and thence forwarded to headquarters) the French admiral announced that he would set sail for Chesapeake Bay on the 30 of August with a fleet of twenty-six ships and with 3,500 land troops, but that his orders would not permit him to remain later than the 15th of October. This announcement, taken in con- nection with the continuing intelligence of the advantages offering in Virginia for decisive operations against Cornwallis, at once settled all doubt regarding the most profitable employment of the allied forces. Without delay Washington resolved to quit his situation in Westchester County and march with the greatest practicable ex-
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pedition to invest Cornwallis at Yorktown. Meantime, however, he took steps to confirm Sir Henry Clinton's impression that his de- signs were really against New York.
During the three weeks which had elapsed since the grand recon- noissance of New York, it was not alone Clinton who Telt uneasiness and perplexity at Washington's apparent hesitation. The Americans and French themselves wore at a loss to account for it; for not a whisper of the real considerations which were influencing the Ameri- can commander was permitted to get abroad. The letters of the Abbe Robin, a priest attached to Rochambeau's army, reflect the pre-
THE AMERICAN PEACE COMMISSIONERS.
vailing uncertainty and speculation. On the 15th of August he wrote: " They who supposed we were to direet our route toward Virginia begin now to think they were deceived. Part of the army on this [ the French] side are preparing to march down by way of Kingsbridge; and on the other [American] side orders are given to get ready to proceed toward Staten Island and oven to construct ovens to bake bread for the troops when camped in that quarter: others, again, are ordered toward Philadelphia. What are we to think? All this seems to me like our theatrical marches where the concern and perplexity of the spectators is continually increasing. I
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am in doubt whether the unravelling of the matter will compensate for the trouble, anxiety, and uneasiness it occasions. . It is said the armies will move in a day or two, which will enable us to determine the better to what quarter we are to proceed."
There was indeed the most flourishing display on Washington's part of resolute and far-extending preparations to besiege New York. Besides beginning to build ovens in the vicinity of Staten Island, he had a large camp marked out there and much fuel collected. He caused the Westchester County roads leading down to Kingsbridge to be cleared by pioneers, as if preliminary to a march in that diree- tion. He also adopted the familiar ruse of misleading dispatches, which were intrusted to ingenious scouts, who fell in with parties of the enemy and after desperate pretended efforts to escape were taken and reluctantly gave up their valuable papers.
On the 19th of August Washington began the great movement which was to terminate in the capitulation of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown and the utter paralysis of Great Britain's armed power in the American States. All being in readiness for breaking camp. he dispatched Hazen's regiment and the New Jersey line across the Hudson at Dobbs Ferry, with orders to make a feint toward Staten Island, and, drawing up the main body of the American army, he had it paraded facing New York. Then he had the troops turned about and marched with all speed up the river road. by way of Tarrytown, Sing Sing, and the new bridge across the Croton, to Ver- planck's Point. The French followed by the circuitons route of White Plains, North Castle, Pine's Bridge, and Crompond. " The inhab- itants of the country," says the Abbe Robin, " were greatly surprised to see ns returning by the same road, so poor, and the Tories, with a malicious sneer, demanded if we were going to rest from our labors." By the 26th both armies had completed their movement across King's Ferry. The advance through the eastern part of New Jersey was made so as to have it appear that Staten Island was menaced. Sir Henry Clinton suspected nothing of the truth until Washington was well advanced toward Philadelphia. Everything conjoined to favor the ultimate object of the campaign. The fleet of de Grasse, com- prising twenty-eight ships of the line with some 4,000 troops on board, arrived in Chesapeake Bay on the 30th of Angust. Washing- ton and Rochambean, with their forces, sat down before Yorktown in the latter part of September. The place surrendered, more than 7.000 British and Hessian troops laying down their arms, on the 191h of October, just two months after the march from Dobbs Ferry was begun.
Washington's last act before marching away from Dobbs Ferry
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was to address to General Heath, the commander at West Point, an explicit letter of instructions. He assigned to that officer the com- mand of all the troops remaining in the department, " consisting of the two regiments of New Hampshire, ten of Massachusetts, and tive of Connecticut infantry, the corps of invalids, Sheldon's Legion, the 3d Regiment of artillery," and various bodies of militia. He directed Heath to have prominently in view at all times the defense of the Highlands and the Hudson River. Secondarily he was to " cover " the country below, but " without hazarding the safety of the posts in the Highlands." Finally, Washington recommended that the posi- tion of the American forces should not be pushed farther down than the " north side of the Croton," and, consistently with this recom- mendation. he ordered the demolition of the redoubt at Dobbs Ferry.
General Heath's conduet of the post during the winter of 1780-81 was in strict conformity with these instructions. His Memoirs con- tain very few records of unusual happenings for that period. There were, however, some occurrences on the lines and in the Neutral Ground that should receive brief mention.
On the 20 of December, 1781, there was a sharp engagement near Merritt's Tavern, at the upper end of King Street, in the Town of Rye, a party of de Lancey's cavalry attacking a detachment of New York infantry levies which was stationed there, under the command of Captain Sackett. The British cavalry, says Baird, were " repulsed three times with the bayonet, not a shot being fired by the Ameri- eans," and he adds: " This is said to have been the most astonishing feat, on the part of both officers and men, that was enacted during the whole war. General Washington often spoke of the affair, and it was reported all over Europe, to show the utility of the bayonet and that a small party of infantry thus armed may successfully resist a strong body of cavalry." After the third charge the Americans fired with good effect, and the incident ended with the discomtiture of the British.
At the end of January, 1782, an expedition of fifty men left Peek- skill for West Farms, arriving there about midnight. This was one of the numerous undertakings to surprise and capture Colonel James de Lanevy. and, like all the others, failed to realize that much sought end. But some prisoners and horses were taken. The retiring Ameri- eans (commanded by Captain Daniel Williams) were pursued by British cavalry, and, in their turn, were surprised the next morning while quartered at Orser's, near the Hudson, just below the Croton River. There was a spirited encounter, one of the Americans-the gallant George MeChain-being killed and several made prisoners (among them John Paulding, the captor of Andre).
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In February (the 7th) fifty of de Lancey's Horse came up as far as Chappaqua. From there they went to Wright's Mills, and, falling in with a detachment of General Waterbury's command, killed one and took four prisoners.
In March two successful attacks were made by the Americans on de Lancey's camp at Morrisania. The first of these expeditions (March 4) was led by Captain Hunnewell, with a body of volunteer horse backed by infantry under the command of Major Woodbridge. The party assaulted the cantonment just before sunrise, taking the enemy completely by surprise, killing and wounding many, and car- rying away twenty prisoners. During the retreat Abraham Dyck- man, the heroic Kingsbridge guide, was mortally wounded. On the 26th of March there was a similar attack, though on a smaller scale. The American party consisted of only thirteen mounted volunteers, at whose head was Michael Dyckman, brother of Abraham. This insignificant band penetrated to the camp of the Rangers and took a number of prisoners, with whom they returned safely to the lines, twice facing about and putting to fight a party of horsemen that pursued them. We believe this was the last encounter of the Revo- lution in Westchester County.
Shortly after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, there being no further employment for the main American army at the South, Washington dispatched it back to the Highlands to resume the watch on the Hudson. During the winter of 1781-82, and the succeeding spring and summer, it was quartered at Newburgh, West Point, and New Windsor, on the west bank of the river. Meantime the French army under Rochambeau lay in Virginia. De Grasse's fleet returned to the West Indies, where in April, 1782, it was totally defeated by the British Admiral Rodney, de Grasse himself being made prisoner.
Washington resumed the chief command of the army in the High- lands at the end of March, 1782, making his headquarters at New- burgh. Rumors of British desires and preparatory measures for peace now began to arrive. Sir Henry Clinton was removed from the command of the British forces in America, his successor, Sir Gny Carleton, reaching New York on the 6th of May. The next day he sent to Washington a communication announcing the readiness of the British ministry to negotiate a peace on the basis of the in- dependence of America. But the plain interpretation of this letter was that Great Britain wished to treat with the United States alone, ignoring France in the matter, and congress was unwilling to listen to such a suggestion. Moreover, the English government re- frained from making any offer for a cessation of hostilities, and thus
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a state of war still existed, notwithstanding the complete inactivity on both sides. For several months Carleton diligently cultivated his amicable correspondence with Washington. Dr. Thacher re- cords in his Military JJournal that on the 25th of Ily the regiment to which he was attached was sent to occupy the post at Dobbs Ferry. "Flags are passing and repassing from this post to New York and back every day," he writes under date of August 5.
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