Home / Dawson, Henry B. Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution. Morrisania, NY: (privately printed by the author), 1886. / Passage

Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution

Dawson, Henry B. Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution. Morrisania, NY: (privately printed by the author), 1886. 270 words

On Sunday, the tenth of November, a Brigade of Hessians was moved to that place, to increase the strength of General Knyphausen's already strong Division ; * and, two days afterwards, [Tuesday, November 12,] the main body of the Royal Army broke up the encampment, at Dobbs'sferry, which it had occupied since the preceding Wednesday, and, in two columns, moved towards Kingsbridge, resting, on the following day, [Wednesday, November 13,] on the heights of Fordham, and forming a line, with the Right upon the road leading to the Borough Town of Westchester, and covered by the Bronx-river, and with the Left on the Hudsonriver, 5 where it remained, until the preparations for the assault on Fort Washington, which had been reasonably determined on, had been completed. 6

The progress of the Royal Army through Westchester-county was distinguished by the outrages which were inflicted on the inhabitants, without respect to persons or sexes, on both those who were entirely conservative and disposed to favor the Royal cause and those who were radically and actively opposed to it -- as General Washington described them, while forewarning the Governor of New Jersey of what the fate of that people would be, "they have treated all, " here, without discrimination : the distinction of

1 Memoirs of General Heath, 84.

2 General Washington to the President of the Congress, " Peekskill, 11 "November, 1776."

3 Instructions of General Washington to General Lee, "Head-quarters, "near the White-Plains, 10 November, 1776;" Bettirn of the Conti nental Troops under the command of General Lee, " North-Castle, No- '• vember 16, 1776 ;" Memoirs of General Heath, 84.