THE TOWN OF YORKTOWN. 697 



called French hill, the French forces were encamped in 178 1-2, under 

 Comte de Rochambeau. " The French army, at the time the Marquis 

 speaks of, (Nov. 1782, says the translator of Chastellux,) had been for 

 some time encamped at Crompond, near Cortlandt's manor, a few miles 

 from that of General Washington's, and between which there was a daily 

 intercourse. The translator dined, in October, 1782, in General 

 Washington's tent, with the Marquis de Laval, the Baron de Viomenil, 

 and several French officers, within hearing of the British guns, which 

 were at that period happily become a Brutum fulmen" a On the north- 

 west side of French hill, are the two ponds styled by the Indians Keaka- 

 tis. The largest of these, sometimes known by the name of the Great 

 Pond, covers an area of 200 acres, and discharges its redundant waters 

 into the smaller one of 100 acres. Both are supplied by numerous 

 springs, and have their outlet in Muscoota river. The site of an Indian 

 village is still pointed out, on the borders of the Great Pond, north of 

 cedar swamp, likewise the remains of a cemetery on Cedar Point. 6 



Several roads intersect the town, running principally north and south, 

 from the Mahopack turnpike to the great post-road, formerly called the 

 King's road. These consist of Stoney, King's Gorme, Amawalk, Toma- 

 hawk and Lovett streets. 



The Pine's Bridge road leading south from Crompond, affords magni- 

 ficent views of the rich and fertile country bordering the Croton River, 

 together with the village of Yorktown, and the Turkey and Collabergh 

 mountains. Upon this road are situated the farms and residences of 

 General Bernardus Montross, Mr. Seth Whitney, Mr. James Underhill, 

 Mr. Richard M. Underhill and George McKeel, &c In a back room of 

 the General's house, fell the notorious freebooter, Joseph Hueson, by the 

 hand of Seth Whitney, (father of the above mentioned gentleman) former 

 proprietor of the estate. Hueson was a perfect scourge and terror to 

 this part of the country during the Revolution, for he devoted himself 

 to the most cruel pillage and robbery among the defenceless inhabitants. 

 Whilst in the act of entering the house for plunder, Whitney plunged 

 a bayonet into his body. Upon hearing their leader exclaim, " the rascal 

 has killed me!" a band of ruffians forced an entrance, seized Whitney, 

 and inflicted on him the most savage cruelties. Directly opposite the 

 mansion of the latter, stands the orthodox Friends meeting-house, erec- 

 ted in 1833. 



A road diverging to the south-west, near the meeting-house, leads to 



a Travels in North America in the years 1 "SO, 81, 82, by the Marquis Chastellux. One of 

 the principal visitors at the French cani[> in \T->>, was the Baron de Talleyrand. 



b Upon Cedar Point an eccentric character known as Nancy Lane the hermitesa, resided 

 for many years. 



