Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution

7 It is said that the place for the landing of the troops was entirely entrusted to the naval officers, by whom Throgg's-neck was selected, because of the unfitness of Pell's-neck, for that purpose ; and a glance at the official Chart of the Coast Survey, will satisfy any one of the wisdom displayed in the choice-- the shallowness of the water, elsewhere, would have prevented the co-operation of the larger vessels of evrry class ; and, certainly, the landing of the troops at Pell's-neck could not have been

- covered by any vessel of force sufficient for such a purpose, without which no prudent officer would have attempted a landing, anywhere.

But General Sir Henry Clinton has left a testimony on this subject, which disposes' of every cavil. On the margin of his own copy of Stedman's History of the American War, (i. 211,) he wrote these words: " It " had been proposed to Sir William Howe that the troops should have "been marched to Harlem Point " [Hoern's Hook, at the mouth of the Harlem River, opposite Hell-gate,} " there met by the boats, passed to City "Orchard" [Cay-islandf] thence to Mill's Creek," [New Rqchelle-harbor, ] " and Rochelle. This was overruled; and the above move to Frog's " Point took place. Lord Howe objected to Mill's Creek, under an idea " that it would not be safe for ships to lay there."

8 Speech of Sir William Howe before a Committee of die House of Commons, April 29, 1779.