It is the general opinion of historical writers that the real purpose of the British commander in sending them tip the stream was to make a feint and cause the Americans to fix their attention upon the Hudson while he was preparing to outflank Washington from the Sound. The incident certainly did produce a vast deal of uneasiness on the We shall recur to this subject in detail later. American side. While Washington lay encamped on the Heights of Harlem, the whole southern border of Westchester County, stretching from Spuyten Duyvil Creek to the Sound, A\as protected by a large force under the efficient command of General Heath, with headquarters at Kingsbridge. The defensive works at Kingsbridge and its vicinity, commenced in the spring, had by arduous labor been completed, and now comprised nine well fortified and garrisoned positions, having for their central and most powerful point what was called Fort In-

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

dependence, on Tetard's Hill, where the farm of General Richard Montgomery then was, and about where the honse of William Ogden Giles now stands. It "occupied a most commanding position, overlooking the Albany road on one side and the Boston road on the other," the battle of and by " had "two bastions at the westerly angles." After Lou- Island, and previously to the occupation of .Manhattan Island The enemy, General 1 loath had adopted excellent precautions againsi a possible landing in Westchester County. Early in Septem^. -- --- .... <" * * <" > • * >• from inm of ber he established «> < hain Morrisania to Throgg's vedettes moven Neck, so as to provide tor immediate informatio of any hostile render to began also lie force, in resistance require ment'that 1I1 the Harlem and the Sound ds might leading from the villages artillery British trees athwart them the to telling le by impassab and digging deep pits.