History of Westchester County, New York, from its Earliest Settlement to the Year 1900
The affair of March at Peekskill greatly agitated the State convention, which caused a portion of the militia of Orange, Dutchess, aud Westchester Counties to be called out, sent to the Highlands, and iThe Van Cortlandt mansion, near Peekskill, of the was built about 1770. In consequence Van Cortlandt. the of Pierre firm adhesion head of the family, to the patriot cause, the Manor House at Croton became an unsafe nabitation. and the Van Cortlandts were obliged to take up their residence in the Peekskill house. Cornelia, the second daughter of Pierre Van Cortlandt, married Gerard G. Beekman, a zealous patriot. Mrs. Beekman was the hostess at the Peekskill house. The following incisultingly asked her: 'Are you not the daughter of that old rebel Pierre Van Cortlandt?' ' I am the daughter of Pierre Van She replied: Cortlandt. but it becomes not such as you to call my father a rebel.' The Tory raised his musket, when she, with great calmness, reproved him for his insolence and bade him begQne The cowara turned away abashed, and ghe reniained uninjured." This house was QfteQ ugod by Washingttm as his official resi^^ when Mg dutieg took nim t0 Peekskill, a
dent hasunder been Colonels often quoted: P"%Fanning, C'[ ™J; distinction which. it ,.,,.,, shared alists Bayard " A and Birdsall house, m Peekskill. came to the Peekskill house, and, commencing one in- 2 See Scharf, ii., 713. course of treatment, their customary
with
the
noted
HISTORY
WESTCHESTER
COUNTY
put to work at various duties -- notably the strengthening of the chain. About the end of April several British transports advanced up the river, but came no farther than Dobbs Ferry. In May Washington dispatched Generals Greene and Knox to Peekskill, who, in conjunction with Generals McDougall, George Clinton, and Anthony Wayne, made a careful examination of the Highland situation and submitted a joint report, in which the importance of the chain was dwelt upon, but it was expressly urged that there was no need of additional defenses on the west shore below Fort Clinton.