FIRST NA VAL BA TTLE. 1 8 3 



ture in all other parts of the land. From the 

 Ramapo Valley to the shores of the Hud- 

 son there were constant successions of mur- 

 der, rape, and arson. Patrols were always on 

 guard to prevent the landing of the British, 

 not so much from fear of them as from the 

 apprehension that their own townsmen would 

 be encouraged by their presence to cut their 

 throats. 



Exasperated by these frequent occurrences, 

 they organized an impromptu fleet for the 

 purpose of attack upon the water. Although 

 it does not come within the scope of the great 

 works on American naval history to chronicle 

 it, nevertheless the first naval battle after the 

 Declaration of Independence was fought di- 

 rectly opposite the road upon which I was 

 now riding. On August 3, 1776, Skipper Ben 

 Tupper constituted himself the first Admiral 

 of our Navy, and with a fleet of four sloops, 

 attacked the British ships Plienix and Rose^ 

 fighting them for two hours, and finally driv- 

 ing them below Tarrytown, within their own 

 lines. This action was followed by a series of 

 similar engagements to ward ofT the hostilities 

 that for the most part were directed against 

 the people of the western shore while the in- 



