De Lauzun, the French general, who was co-operating, was at that time at East Chester and heard the firing of the guns. His part of the programme was to surprise de Lancey at Morrisania, but finding that the enemy were on the alert he hastened to Lincoln's support, at Fort Independence. Washington, who, in the mean time, had the main body of the army under his command at Valentine's Hill (near the present depot of the New York City and Northern Railroad Company, at South Yonkers), also advanced. The British retreated by their boats across Harlem River.

Washington determined that he would reconnoitre their works, at all events. On July 21st Lincoln and Chastellereux made a reconnoisance of the works to the north of New York Island. Some advanced by the old Albany road, some down the Saw-Mill Valley, and the third column by the East Chester road. Scammel's light infantry was in advance, to prevent intelligence of the general movement spreading. Shel-

1 Heath's ■ ' Memoire, " 215, 223, 228.

2 Heath, 232. 'Heath's "Memoirs."

WESTCHESTER.

don's cavalry and the Connecticut troops were to go to the eastward of Westchester township and scour Throgg's Neck ; his infantry and the Count De Lauzun's lancers were to scour Morrisania. The main body arrived at Fort Independence at daybreak. The British on New York Island did not seem to know what was going on. While the troops kept the enemy in check, Washington and Kochambeau, accompanied by the engineers of their staffs and with an escort of dragoons, reconnoitred the British position. A map prepared by ^^'ashingtou's engineer, now at the Historical Society Library in Second Avenue, with its pencil-marks and memoranda, brings the whole movement down almost to an eye-witness standpoint. They rode across country from the Hudson to the Sound.