On the 3d of October, General Heath who was apprehensive that the British might land on Throg's Neck, reconnoitered his position in that direction, accompanied by Colonel Hand of the Pennsylvania rifle corps. Throg's Neck is an island turned into a peninsula by a causeway and a bridge, and formed part of the old Borough Town of Westchester. It is upward of two miles in length and encircled by Eastchester Bay, the Sound and Westchester Creek, being separated on the west and north from the main-land by the narrow creek and by a marsh. The causeway, terminated at the west end by a plankbridge, crossed this marsh and creek, and led to the mainland. The upper ex-tremity of the creek was passable at low water, in several places.

Chapter I

BEFORE THE BATTLE OF WHITEPLAINS 5

With a view to the defense of this pass, the two recon-noitring officers made a careful examination of the causeway. Contiguous to the plankbridge which connected the village of Westchester with the west end of the causeway stood a tidemill. Near the western extremity of the bridge, being the side occupied by the American army, there was at this time deposited a long range of cordwood, which was piled in such a manner as to cover effectually a party engaged in defending the pass. After a full view, Heath directed Colonel Hand to fix upon one of the best subaltern officers and twenty-five picked men of his corps, and assign them to this pass, as their alarmpost at all times. In case the enemy should make a landing on Throg's Neck, this officer was to be directed, immediately to take up the plants of the bridge, and to have everything in readiness to set the mill on fire; but not to burn it unless the riflemen should be unable to check the advance of the enemy.