COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 183
and Captain Crafts, with a howitzer, to watch the movements of the enemy up the river.^
To this place the British army retreated after tlie battle of White Plains, closely followed by reconnoitering parties of the Americans. On the 7th of November, 1776, the enemy commenced foraging for grain and hay, and driving in cattle.^
On the 29th of January, 1777, General Lincoln's division of the Continental army was ordered to Dobb's Ferry. <5
This ferry was selected by General Arnold and Major Andre as the place of their first meeting, *' Andre's letter to Sheldon, (observes Mr. Sparks, in his Life of Arnold,) when divested of its disguise, will be seen to have had no other object than to communicate the intelligence that he should be at Dobb's Ferry at a certain time. He presumed the letter would be sent to Arnold, who would understand its meaning, and conduct his plans accordingly. So it turned out. Arnold left home on the afternoon of the 10th, went down the river in his barge to King's Ferry, and passed the night at the house of Joshua H. Smith, who resided about two miles and a half from the Ferry, near the road leading to Haverstraw.
Early the next morning he proceeded to Dobb's Ferry, at which place Andre had arrived, according to his appointment, accompanied by Colonel Beverly Robinson, to whom the secret had already been entrusted by Sir Henry Clinton, probably at the suggestion, or at least with the knowledge of Arnold. An accident occurred which prevented the interview, and was near putting an end to the plot itself. When Arnold was approaching the point of destination by water, he was fired upon by the British gun boats stationed in that part of the river, and so closely pursued that his life was in danger, and he was on the point of being taken prisoner.