He directed Heath to have promineutly in view at all times the defense of the Highlands and the Hudson River. Secondarily he was to "cover" the country below, but " without hazarding the safety of the posts in the Highlands." Finally, Washington recommended that the position of the American forces should not be pushed farther down than the "north side of the Proton, ** and, consistently with this recommendation, he ordered the demolition of the redoubt at Dobbs Ferry. General Heath's conduct of the post during the winter of 178.0-8] was in strict conformity with these instructions. His Memoirs contain very few records of unusual happenings for that period. There were, however, some occurrences on the lines and in the Neutral Ground that should receive brief mention. On the 2d of December, 17S1, there was a sharp engagement near Merritt's Tavern, at the upper end of King Street, in the Town of Rye, a party of de Lancey's cavalry attacking a detachment of New York infantry levies which was stationed there, under the command of Captain Sackett. The British cavalry, says Baird, were " repulsed three times with the bayonet, not a shot being tired by the Americans," and he adds: " This is said to have been the most astonishing feat, on the part of both officers and men, that was enacted during the whole war. General Washington often spoke of the affair, and it was reported all over Europe, to show the utility of the bayonet and that a small party of infantry thus armed may successfully resist a strong body of cavalry." After the third charge the Americans fired with good effect, and the incident ended with the discomfiture of the British. At the end of January, 17S2, an expedition of fifty men left Peekskill for West Farms, arriving there about midnight.