It was upon this hill that General Washington stationed his troops and lighted camp-fires for the purpose of deceiving the enemy, whilst he secretly withdrew to join La Fayette before Yorktown, in Virginia, A.D. 17S1.

a This UJy waa a sister-iri-Iaw of Au^itua Vau Cortljatlt, Sen.

THE TO\V'N OF YONKERS. 621

There are still the remains of a considerable fort on the north end of the ridge. During the Revolutionary struggle, the valley south from Vault Hill to Kings Bridge, appears to have been the constant scene of skirmishing between the two armies. ,

On the 3d of July, 1781, General Washington planned an expedition' to cut off Colonel James de Lancey, stationed in the vale, and Major I'ruschanck, another British officer occup>ing Cortlandt ridge, in command of tlie Yager horse.

It had been so arranged that the Duke of Lauzun should march to Williams' Bridge, and there make his rendezvous till daylight the following morning. General Lincoln was to be piloted down from Tappan and landed below Yonkers, while Washington himself should take post on Valentine's hill. Lauzun accordingly conducted his cavalry to William's Bridge, where he halted. In the mean time General Lincoln had been landed half a mile below the village, on the property now owned by Thomas W. Ludlow, Esq., then occupied by Isaac Post. After landing, Lincoln, guided by ]\Iajor LauTence, passed along shore south, missing Col. Emmerick with his corps marching north to Boar hill; then crossing over the hills east, Lincoln followed the course of Tippett's brook, for the purpose of avoiding, Pruschank's corps, stationed upon Cortlandt's ridge. Passing the Van Cortlandt residence, he kept close to the edge of Gun and Locust hills, and had arrived in the vicinity of General Montgomery's house, (then occupied by his widow,) unobser\-ed by the sentinels on the opposite side, when the enemj^s patrol fired.