o Spark's LUe oi Arnold, 276.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

American army was awakened by the firing of cannon at Dobb's Ferry. It appeared that two of the enemy's gun boats had come upas high as the ferry, probably to endeavor to seize some vessels or boats. On finding they were discovered, they fired four cannon, but to no effect. Four cannon were discharged at the boats from the battery, on which they went down the river .a

Besides the two redoubts, there must have been a military block house erected here; for on the 17th of March, 1781, we find Major Graham ordered out with a detachment of 150 men for its relief, on which occasion, the garrison on both shores were doubled6

Washington's diary informs us that on the 4th of July, 1781, Washington "marched and took a position a little to the left of Dobb's Ferry, and marked a camp for the French army upon our left." July 6, the French army formed "the junction with the American army on the ground marked out." "The American army was encamped in two fines, with the right resting on the Hudson River, near Dobb's Ferry. The French army stationed on the hills at the left, was a single line reaching to the Bronks river. There was a valley of considerable extent between the two armies."

Washington's object in taking the position on the Hudson River near Dobb's Ferry, was to be prepared to make an attack on New York city, and also from the apprehension of that attack to induce the enemy to withdraw a large portion of his forces from the south. In this he was successful ; and thus it was that he was enabled to defeat and compel the surrender of Cornwallis, and end the war.