THE NEUTRAL GROUND

I propose, upon the present occasion, to place before this society, the particulars of a bold and successful partisan exploit belonging to the American revolutionary contest, and accomplished in the spring of 1780, upon the borders of New York county. In order that my narrative may be the more readily com-prehended, a few preliminary remarks seem requisite, in rela-tion to the origin and action of that desultory drama, of which the country between Harlem river and Peekskill was for seven years, the theatre. From the month of November in the year 1776 until 1783, the lines of the American army which looked southerly toward New York City, were formed north of Croton river, and extended from the Hudson, across the upper part of West-chester County, and through a small portion of Connecticut, to the Sound: while the light troops occupied a chain of mov-able posts, several miles in front of this stationary force. Twice, it is true, the main body of the Continental forces advanced to Kingsbridge and lay, for about two months, at Whiteplains or in its immediate vicinity; menacing, each time, the great citadel of the royal operations. So too, at various other times, strong detachments from the main army sud-denly marched as low down as Morrisania or Kingsbridge, and having beaten up the enemy's quarters, soon after with-drew; while upon different occasions, the advanced guards of the upper party established for short periods, a chain of pickets, from the high grounds above Tarrytown, through Whiteplains and the Purchase, to Connecticut. But the per-manent lines of the American army of observation in West-chester County, were, almost always, drawn a short distance