In this respect it was at first the American policv to push down advance posts as near as practicable to the to enemy's sphere, and at no time did the patriots retire their lines Yet Peekskill, the northward of Pine's Bridge across the Croton. with the country immediately dependent upon it, always remained

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

the seat of the serious American establishment for general purposes. The choice of positions farther down by Washington during his subsequent visitations of Westchester County (including that of Dobbs Ferry for the united American and French armies in 1781) proved in each case only a temporary expedient. It can not, however, be said of the main American position at Peekskill, as of the enemy's at Kingsbridge, that it was one upon which its possessors could rest in calm and undisturbed confidence and without reference to any of the ordinary possible developments of general strategy. Because of the natural location of New York City, with all its surrounding waters controlled by the fleet and only the position at Kingsbridge open to practicable attack, the British could abide there indefinitely without apprehension of any secret or sudden American designs. In order to make a formidable campaign on New York City -- which could proceed only by way of Kingsbridge, a point not to be reached except by a long march down the Westchester County peninsula, and not to be deliberately assailed without the previous concentration of all of Washington's forces -- the Americans would have had to lay bare their SIR HENRY CLINTON. intentions weeks in advance. How different the situation at Peekskill ! It could always be surprised by a river expedition from New York City, with but the briefest possible foreknowledge on Washington's part. It was a point of supreme importance, but only one among several.