THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH. 2j$ 



In the vicinity of the upper dock, the ravine opens and. displays a- 

 splendid view of the Hudson river. The road passing through the gap 

 of the Greenburgh hills west of the Saw Mill Valley, follows the course 

 of the ancient Indian path, which formerly led to the village of the "Bark 

 Kettle" at the mouth of the Weghqueghe, or Wysquaqua Creek. 



The lower landing and ferry are situated some distance south of the 

 creek at the foot of a steep bank. Here is a neat hotel, kept by Mr. 

 Shadrach Taylor, for the convenience of passengers by the ferry, and the 

 daily steamboats that touch at this dock. 



Dobb's Ferry was distinguished during the Revolution, as the scene 

 of active military operations. To this fort, October 9, 1776, General 

 Heath ordered Colonel Sargent, with 500 infantry, 40 light horse, Capt. 

 Horton, of the artillery, with two 12 pounders, and Captain Crafts,, 

 with a howitzer, to watch the movements of the enemy up the river.* 



To this place the British army retreated after the battle of White Plains, 

 closely followed by reconnoitering parties of the Americans. On the 

 7th of November, 1776, the enemy commenced foraging for grain and 

 hay, and driving in cattle. b 



On the 29th of January, 1777, General Lincoln's division of the Con- 

 tinental army was ordered to Dobb's Ferry. c 



This ferry was selected by General Arnold and Major Andre as the 

 place of their first meeting. "Andre's letter to Sheldon, (observes Mr. 

 Sparks, in his Life of Arnold,) when divested of its disguise, will be seen 

 to have no other object than to communicate the intelligence that he 

 should be at Dobb's Ferry at a certain time. He presumed the letter 

 would be sent to Arnold, who would understand its meaning, and con- 

 duct his plans accordingly, and so it turned out. Arnold left home on the 

 afternoon of the 10th, went down the river in his barge to King's Ferry, 

 and passed the night at the house of Joshua H. Smith, who resided 

 about two miles and a half from the Ferry, near the road leading to 

 Haverstraw. Early the next morning he proceeded to Dobb's Ferry, at 

 which place Andre had arrived according to his appointment, accompa- 

 nied by Colonel Beverly Robinson, to whom the secret had already been 

 intrusted by Sir Henry Clinton, probably at the suggestion, or at least 

 with the knowledge of Arnold. An accident occurred which prevented 

 the interview, and was near putting an end to the plot itself. When 

 Arnold was approaching the point of destination by water, he was fired 

 upon by the British gun-boats stationed in that part of the river, and so 



a Heath Mem. 69. 

 b Ibid. 84. 

 c Ibid. 113. 



