It had been reported to Colonel Livingston by messengers from Teller's Point, that the vessel was so near the shore as to be within reach of cannon-shot, and that the inhabitants were likewise apprehensive boats would land and commit depredations. Col. Livingston accordingly sent from A^erplank's Point a party with cannon, who fired upon the Vulture and compelled her to remove from the position she had held during the night, and drop farther down the river till she was beyond reach of the shot.

118 HISTORY OF THE

Aijdr6 beheld the scene from the windows of Smith's house with anxious emotion ; at length the firing ceased, and he resumed his wonted spirits and composure.''^

Upon another occasion, *' while Enoch Crosby the Westchester spy was on duty in the vicinity of Teller's Point, a British sloop of war came up the river, and anchored in the stream opposite the Point. With an unconquerable predilection for stratagem, our hero immediately concerted a plot, for the sole purpose, as he says, of affording " a little sport for his soldiers." He accordingly proceeded down to the Point, accompanied by six men, five of whom, besides himself, concealed themselves in the woods, which grew a short distance from the shore, while the other paraded the beach so as to display La Fayette's uniform in so conspicuous a manner, as to attract the notice of the officers on board the vessel.

The enemy swallowed the bait ; and a boat soon put off from the sloop of war, manned with eleven men, under the command of a lieutenant, to make a prisoner of this one yankee, who precipitately fled into the woods as the barge approached the shore. The Englishmen followed, threatening to shoot the fugitive unless he stopped and surrendered.