It was almost daylight before the horses deposited the cannon where it could be dragged into position under cover of the underbrush and thickly wooded peninsula . As soon as the " Vulture " could be sighted off shore in the semi - darkiness before dawn , a flash and a roar startled the British marines from their slumber . The first shot of the can- non splintered a spar on the war- ship . Major Andre ' had been rowed ashore before midnight and had arrived already at Joshua Smith's ' treason house " above Haverstraw . History says that he was much agi- tated when he heard the echo of heavy firing down around Teller's Point , but he was too far away to see that the " Vulture " had weighed an- chor and disappeared down the River around the Point . The Croton army hitched the heavy farm horses to the light artillery and went home to brag about how they had licked che English Navy . But they were wholly unaware that they had thwarted Arnold and Andre . It was days , even , before they learned of the treason plot . Friends ' Meeting House * An historic landmark of the Vil- lage is the site of The Friends ' Meeting House on Grand Street . The property was originally owned by the Verplanck family , and by them was sold to Richard Bradford who , in turn , sold it to John Conklin . On November 11 , 1797 the Society of Friends purchased the property from John Conklin for a meeting house and burial ground . The pur- chase price was " twenty - two pounds , ten shillings " , lawful money of the State of New York . ( approximately $ 112.50 ) The meeting house was erected and was used for generations .