2S0 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



American army was awakened by the firing of cannon at Dobb's Ferry. 

 It appeared that two of the enemy's gun boats had come upas high as the 

 ferry, probably to endeavor to seize some vessels or boats. On finding 

 they were discovered, they fired four cannon, but to no effect. Four 

 cannon were discharged at the boats from the battery, on which they 

 went down the river. a 



Besides the two redoubts, there must have been a military block house 

 erected here; for on the 17th of March, 1781, we find Major Graham 

 ordered out with a detachment of 150 men for its relief, on which 

 occasion, the garrison on both shores were doubled. b 



Washington's diary informs us that on the 4th of July, 1781, Wash- 

 ington " marched and took a position a little to the left of Dobb's Ferry, 

 and marked a camp for the French army upon our left." July 6, the 

 French army formed "the junction with the American army on the 

 ground marked out." "The American army was encamped in two lines, 

 with the right resting on the Hudson River, near Dobb's Ferry. The 

 French army stationed on the hills at the left, was a single line reach- 

 ing to the Bronks river. There was a valley of considerable extent 

 between the two armies." 



Washington's object in taking the position on the Hudson River near 

 Dobb's Ferry, was to be prepared to make an attack on New York city, 

 and also from the apprehension of that attack to induce the enemy to 

 withdraw a large portion of his forces from the south. In this he was 

 successful ; and thus it was that he was enabled to defeat and compel 

 the surrender of Cornwallis, and end the war. 



By Washington's Orderly Book, July 6, 1781, written at Dobb's Ferry, 

 Washington "embraces the earliest opportunity of expressing his thanks 

 to Count de Rochambeau for the unremitting zeal with which he has 

 prosecuted his march in order to form the long wished- for junction be- 

 tween the French and American armies. An event which must afford 

 the highest degree of pleasure to every friend of the country, and from 

 which the happiest consequences are to be expected." 



The attack upon New York depended upon a large augmentation of 

 the American army; waiting for that, Washington, with Rochambeau 

 made extensive reconnoisances on the west as well as the east side of 

 the Hudson River, starting from the headquarters at Dobb's Ferry. 



The strategy to induce the British army to come out of New York was 

 various. Among other movements it was contemplated to land a large 



a Heath's Mem. 295. 

 b Heath's Mem. 277. 

 c Washington's Life by Washington Irving, vol. 17, p. 304, 305, 30G. 



