It was off the western extremity that tlie Vulture sloop of war came to anchor on the morning of the 21st of September, 1780, having brought up Andre for the purpose of holding an interview with Arnold ]^ and here she expected to have awaited his return -- but soon after the spy had embarked for the opposite shore, a barge filled with armed men from the Vulture was seen approaching Teller's Point ; whereupon, George Sherwood and .Tohn Petterson, who were in the vicinity, seized their arms and hastened to the shore, resolved in their own minds that the enemy should not land without opposition. For this purpose they concealed themselves behind the large rocks which still lie on the beach ; and as the barge catne sweeping along towards the shore, Petterson fired.

^ See Greenburnfh.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 117

His aim had been well directed, for an oar was seen to fall from the hands of one of the men on board, and much confusion was observed among them. A second shot, from Sherwood, compelled them to return, which they did under a cover of canister and grape shot from the Vulture, directed to that part of the beach where Sherwood and Petterson were concealed. The cannonade from the Vulture drew the attention of the people of Cortlandttown to the scene of action. The Vulture lying in a position to be distinctly seen from Verplanck's Point, and the distance of country between it and the point on the Westchester shore, and likewise from Stony Point ; the town of Haverstraw, and the point where Andre and Arnold held their conference in Rockland County; the grounds upon both sides of the river for many miles in extent sloping gradually towards the river -- gave the inhabitants a full view of the scene of action.