420 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



they attempt to land another body of troops on Morrisania, which he thought 

 not improbable. Our general immediately obeyed the order. 



"The wind was now fresh at south-west. The British crossed to the other 

 side of Prog's neck, embarked on board their boats, crossed over the cove, and 

 landed on Pell's neck."« 



Throckmorton's point is likewise remarkable as the place where the 

 tides meet in the Sound. Directly opposite City Island, on the north- 

 east side of the point, are the famous stepping stones, a number of rocks 

 which project in a line from the Long Island shore, and show their bare 

 tops at low water ; upon the highest of which stands the light-house 

 commonly called "Stepping Stone Light." "An Indian origin (says 

 Hon. Egbert Benson) is asserted for this name, and tradition vouched 

 as the authority." " It is said, that at a certain time, doubtless some 

 years ago, the evil spirit set up a claim against the Indians, to Connecti- 

 cut, as his peculiar domain ; but they being in possession, determined, 

 of course, to t?y to hold it. By Connecticut, the premises in question, 

 is to be understood, the original Connecticut proper — the territory be- 

 tween the oblong, our eastern boundary in that quarter, and the Sound." 

 The surfaces of Connecticut and Long Island, were then the reverse of 

 what they are now. Long Island was covered with rocks, Connecticut 

 was free from them. The Indians were fully sensible of what they had 

 to dread from such an adversary, and accordingly betook themselves to 

 a course not unusual on occasions of great difficulty and danger; they 

 referred the case to the squaws, the mothers of the tribes, who, it is said, 

 recommended an offer to quit, on being allowed their better?nents — a 

 Novanglican law term, devised to signify the dwelling and other erec- 

 tions, and comprehending girding the trees to disencumber the land of 

 the wood, by a person entering without title, on land never before culti- 

 vated, known as new or wild land, &c. ' No answer, as was to be ex- 

 pected, was given to this offer ; and the parties claiming to be entitled 

 to the right of sovereign States, and there being no federal court to in- 

 terpose between them, had recourse to the " alternate means, of discus- 

 sion between princes — to arms." The parties foreseeing there would be 

 war, were, as behooved them, prepared for it. 



The renowned arch-leader, an host in himself, took the field alone ; 

 and being an over-match for the Indians in skill and spirit, he at first 

 advanced on them ; but, they having provided there should be con- 

 stantly reinforcements on their march, thereby preserving their corps 

 entire, and harrassing him incessantly, giving him no rest night or day, 



a rJeatn's Mem. 67. 



