The attack upon New York depended upon a large augmentation of the American army; waiting for that, Washington, with Rochambeau made extensive reconnoisances on the west as well as the east side of the Hudson River, starting from the headquarters at Dobb's Ferry."

The strategy to induce the British army to come out of New York was various. Among other movements it was contemplated to land a large

a Heath's Mem. 295. b Heath's Mem. 2T7.

c Washingtou's Life by Washington Irving, vol. 17, p. 304, 305, 306.

THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH.

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force at Tubby Hook, to take by strategy, Fort Washington, and thus induce the enemy to come out to succor that important point, when the American army would rush upon the enemy, defeat him and follow him into the city.

See Washington's address to Major-General Lord Sterling : --

July 14, 1781. >

" The party at Dobb's Ferry being for the purpose of erecting a work there ; they are not to withdraw for camp duty."

Washington, with a considerable body, accompanied by the distinguished French officers, about to make a most interesting recognoizance, left Lord Sterling in command at Headquarters, Dobb's Ferry, to defend which a work was to be erected.

During the period of about forty days, while Dobb's Ferry was the headquarters of the army, Washington addressed fifteen dispatches dated at that place. " Light troops and lancers had performed their duty in scouring the neighborhood. The refugee pests, which had desolated the country, were broken up ; most of the refugees," Washington says, "had fled and hid themselves in several places."