The Hudson River from Ocean to Source (Bacon, 1903)
At the old ferry-house at Croton, a party of New York yeomen, under the command of Captain Daniel Williams, were surprised and captured in 1782 by a party of British cavalry. But there was one incident in the history of this place that seems to have been the small pivot upon which the great structure of America's future swung. From Haverstraw, on the other side of the river, on the twenty-second of September, 1780, Major Andre saw the war-ship Vulture drop down the river to escape a galling fire from Teller's Point. Fresh from his interview with Arnold, the British spy was anxious to return to New York by the only safe way, -- the way by which he had come. His uneasiness at the departure of the Vulture from her anchorage ma}^ be imagined. Once on board of her, all danger of detection and capture would have flown, and the details of Arnold's treacherous plan would in all human proba-
Around Haxerstraw Bay
bilit\' have been worked out successfully. But there was a guard at Teller's Point, and the Vulture made an admirable target. That was all; yet it certainly cost Andre his life and Arnold his reward -- and ])ossibly cost King George a kingdom. Early on the twenty-first, Arnold had, in expectation of his meetine, left the Robinson house, his head-
«j^!«./^:.»rir
CROTON A\n VFRPLANCK S POIXTS AND ANTHONY NOSE -- FROM OF SING SING
quarters, and proceeded to Verplanck's Point; from thence he went to the house of Joshua Hett Smith, on the opposite side of the river.