Washington, dated at Tarry town, July 15, 1776, giving him account of the presence of the enemies' war ships on the Tappan Zee, and asking for aid to repel them, says : "As to further particulars must beg leave to refer your Excellency to the bearer, Capt. William Dutcher." So Capt. Butcher was sent on an important errand to see Gen. Washington and to com. municate to him personally the situation here at that critical juncture.

The following thrilling account of an incident in the experience of Capt. Dutcher and his family, is copied from a choice little volume entitled "The old Home by the River, "« published in 1874, by Rev. Dr. Jacob Dutcher, a grandson of Capt. William of the Revolution, as related bv his aged grandmother, and entitled

"THE GRANDMOTHER'S STORY."

"It was during one of the most discouraging periods of the old war -- for so she used to call the Revolution -- that the incident I am going to relate took place. The British had been successful in several engagements, and these successes had rendered them more than usually intolerant and haughty. Our people had become proportionably disheartened, and a gloom had settled over the whole country. Even the courage of Washington seemed to be giving away before the tardiness of Congress, the small number of ablebodied men upon whom he could rely, and his severe reverses in the field. The army, very much reduced in number, and dejected in spirits, had gone into winter quarters,-- but a small detachment, ordered on special duty had temporarily encamped not far from our house.