" That a post be immediately taken and fortified, at or near Kings Bridge, and that the ground be chosen with a particular view to prevent the communicati^^n between the cit_v of New York and the country from being interrupted by laud."

Ou the abandonment of Manhattan Island in, tyyG, by the American Army, Kings Bridge was occupied by the x\merican General as headquarters.

This bridge was the scene of a bloody conflict between a portion of the Continental army under the command of Major General Heath, and a large body of Hessians under Knyphausen.

January 17, 1777, a detachment "says Heath \vith two field pieces, was ordered to mo^'e to the north of the fort, (in which was a garrison of Hessians who had refused to surrender,) to a hill above Harlem creek, not far from the Nev/ Bridge." When the detachment arrived at this place, a battalion of Hessians appeared dra\\Ti up on the side of the hill just within Kings Bridge, and back of Hyatt's tavern. Our general (Heath) ordered the artilery to cannonade them immediately. The first shot cleared the right of the battalion, nearly a platoon settling down as the shot passed them, which entered the bank close behind them. The second shot passed about the centre of the battalion, when to the amount of a grand division settled down, which was an evidence that they would not stand much longer. One of the jjieces was ordered to be drawn lower down the hill ; on \\hich the battalion quitted their ground and marched ofi" as fast as they could, without running to get behind the redoubt and hill at the bridge, receiving one shot more as they were turning round the point. It was not suspected that the enemy had any cannon in the redoubt within the bridge, but they now began to cannonade the artiller}' men who had descended the hill, who had to draw up their pieces as fast as possible, which they eftected without any loss but received three or four shots quite among them, before they could reach the top of the hill."^ The attack on the 19th and 21st has been already detailed in the account of Tippetts hill.