THE TOWN OF YONKERS. 6oi 



Mile Square during the war of the Revolution appears to have been 

 a favorite camp ground with both armies, on account of its sheltered 

 situation and vicinity to the water. Here were quartered Colonel Em- 

 merick's British light horse. The British Hussars were billeted here for 

 several summers. The Ryche's mansion being occupied as head quar- 

 ters, it was the custom of the troopers to tie up their horses to long 

 cords stretched from the apple trees in the orchard, many of which are 

 still st?nding. For security the roads were patrolled and videttes 

 stretched along the neighboring heights. The remains of bastions are 

 still visible on their summits. 



In 1776, the American Rifle Corps were stationed here; and from this 

 place crossed the Bronx to attack and harrass the British flank, as they 

 moved towards White Plains, after landing on Throgmorton's neck. 

 Subsequent to the memorable battle of White Plains the British returned 

 to Mile Square, reconstructed Hunt's bridge, and occupied the hill forts. 



In 1778, the British light infantry and Highland companies under Gen- 

 eral Simcoe, formed an ambuscade in an orchard, at the place where 

 the roads fork to Hunt's bridge and Valentine's hill, in the hope of sur- 

 prising a large and strong body of the American army msving on the 

 opposite side of the Bronx. It appears from the British account as re- 

 lated by Simcoe, that, 



"Hunt's bridge was commanded by the heights on the side of Kings- 

 Bridge, which the enemy had fortified in 1776. In the British rear was 

 a wood; it had been designed to conceal the Queen's Bangers under Gen- 

 eral Simcoe, and while the Yagers and cavalry should have engaged with 

 any corps who might patrole to Valentine's hill, it was thought probable 

 that the enemy on the opposite side of the Bronx would pass over to 

 their assistance, when the infantry and Highlanders would rush from the 

 wood, and occupying the fences do severe and cool execution upon them 

 as they were on the bridge and occupied in the deep hollow. An advanced 

 party of the enemy, notwithstanding the circumstances which made the troops 

 quit Valentine's hill, had already passed the Bronx ; the Yager cavalary were or- 

 dered to proceed towards Kings Bridge, slowly and in full sight of the enemy 

 who were on Hunt's hill. There was still hopes by forming the ambuscade to do 

 some service, when, to Lieutenant Col. Simcoe's great surprise, the enemy's can- 

 non were fired at the infantry, whom he expected to have been hidden from their 

 sight, by the intervention of the woods; but it appeared that while Captain Ross 

 was with the advanced companies some officers imprudently had got upon a 

 fence, out of curiosity, and discovered themselves to the enemy. Lieutenant 

 Colonel Simcoe immediately withdrew his men out of the reach of any chance 

 shot, and made use of the low ground (the crossing of which would have led 

 him into the ambuscade,) to march his infantry under its cover, out of their 

 sight, or the reach of their cannon ; he sent orders to Captain Ross to withdraw ; 



