Much valuable property was destroyed in this vicinity by the great Croton flood of 1840, caused by the giving way of the dam, on which occasion the river (directly opposite the mansion) rose suddenly to the height of eight feet above the ordinary tide level. At the wire mills, lialf a mile distant, it exceeded fifty feet.

A long walk leads through the old garden or pleasaunce to the ancient ferry house. This building was occupied by a conti nental guard during the Revolution, and occasionally favored with the presence of Washington and other distinguished military officers.

The following orders from the Baron de Kalb bear date,

'' Camp near Croton Bridge, 19th July, 1778. " Colonel Malcolm's regiment is ordered to march at 2 o'clock to-morrow morning to the fort at West Point, on Hudson's River, with the regiment commanded by Lieut. Col. Parker, which is to

a Gen. Phillip van Cortlandt's Diary.

112 HISTORY OF THE

join on the road near Croton Bridge. The commander of the two reo^imeiits (Col. Burr) will make all convenient dispatch, marching ten miles a day, as water and ground will admit. *

The Baron de Kalb."

During the winter of 1782, Captain Daniel Williams, of the New York levies, (stationed on the lines.) having just returned from an excursion to IMorrisania, was surprised by a party of the enemy's horse, in a barn near the ferry house. George McChain, who behaved with the utmost gallantry on this occasion, was killed ; the rest of the party effected their escape on the ice.