6l2 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



tier" of the British line, when they occupied New York Island, while as 

 far north as the Croton extended, the " Neutral Ground." Like the 

 pass of ancient Thermopylae, Kings Bridge can boast of her faithful 

 bands of Spartans, who fought for " liberty or death." As early as May 

 2 5> 1775, Congress ordered : — 



" That a post be immediately taken and fortified, at or near Kings Bridge, and 

 that I he ground be chosen with a particular view to prevent the communication 

 between the city of New York and the country from being interrupted by land." 



On the abandonment of Manhattan Island in, 1776, by the American 

 Arm)-, Kings Bridge was occupied by the American General as head- 

 quarters. 



This bridge was the scene of a bloody conflict between a portion of 

 the Continental army under the command of Major General Heath, and 

 a large body of Hessians under Knyphausen. 



January 17, 1777, a detachment ''says Heath with two field pieces, 

 was ordered to move to the north of the fort, (in which was a garrison 

 of Hessians who had refused to surrender,) to a hill above Harlem 

 creek, not far from the New Bridge." When the detachment arrived at 

 this place, a battalion of Hessians appeared drawn up on the side of 

 the hill just within Kings Bridge, and back of Hyatt's tavern. Our 

 general (Heath) ordered the artilery to cannonade them immediately. 

 The first shot cleared the right of the battalion, nearly a platoon settling 

 down as the shot passed them, which entered the bank close behind 

 them. The second shot passed about the centre of the battalion, when 

 to the amount of a grand division settled down, which was an evidence 

 that they would not stand much longer. One of the pieces was ordered 

 to be drawn lower down the hill ; on which the battalion quitted their 

 ground and marched off as fast as they could, without running to get 

 behind the redoubt and hill at the bridge, receiving one shot more as they 

 were turning round the point. It was not suspected that the enemy had 

 any cannon in the redoubt within the bridge, but they now began to 

 cannonade the artillery men who had descended the hill, who had to 

 draw up their pieces as fast as possible, which they effected without any 

 loss but received three or four shots quite among them, before they 

 could reach the top of the hill."'' The attack on the 19th and 21st 

 has been already detailed in the account of Tippetts hill. 



In July, 1778. Lord Cathcart held the command of the British forces 



at Kings Bridge. 



a The Dew bridge was erected by Jacob Dykeman and Johannes Vermilyea, previous to the 

 war, for th*: purpose of avoiding the toll of the old bridge. 

 u Heato s Hem, 109. 



