The vehicle was a large scow or battcau, which was pushed by means of long poles, that reached to the bottom of the river ;

THE HUDSON.

and it was kept in its course, in defiance of the current, by ropes fore and aft, attached by friction rollers to a stout cable stretched across the stream. There were several of these ferries between Fort Edward and Stillwater, the one most used being that at Bemis's Heights, of which we give a drawing.

Three miles below SchuylerviUe, on the same side of the river, is the hamlet of Coveville, formerly called Do-ve-gat, or Yan Yechten's Cove. It is a pretty, quiet little place, and sheltered by hills in the rear ; the

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EOPE FEBRY.

inhabitants are chiefly agriculturists, and the families of those employed in canal navigation. Here Eurgoyne halted, and encamped for two days, after leaving his intrenched camp to confront Gates, while a working party repaired the roads and bridges in advance to Wilbur's Basin, three miles below. He then advanced, and pitched his tents at the latter place, upon the narrow plain between the river and the hills, and upon the slopes. Here he also encamped on the morning after the first battle at Bemis's Heights, the opening of a cloudy, dull, and cheerless day, that harmonised with the feelings of the British commander. He felt con-

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vinced that, -without the aid of General Clinton's co-operation in drawing off a part of the republican army to the defence of the country below, he should not be able to advance. Yet he wrought diligently in strengthening his position. He erected four redoubts, one upon each of four hills, two above and two below "Wilbur's Basin, and made lines of intrenchments from them to the river, covering each with a battery.