Immediately contiguous to the church is the Croton Aqueduct, which, at no great distance, crosses the Haarlem river on a magnificent bridge of stone, 1450 feet long, with fifteen arches, eight of which are eighty feet span, and seven of fifty feet span; one hundred and fourteen feet above tide water at the top. The estimated cost of the whole, when finished, will exceed $900,000.

In the vicinity of the high bridge is situated Mount Fordham, the seat of Lewis G. Morris, Esq. This place commands a very extensive view of the Haarlem river and surrounding country, in which New York island forms a beautiful feature.

The residence of Mr. Samuel Archer, in this neighborhood, is distinguished in the history of the Revolution as the head quarters of Colonel James de Lancey of the Royal Refugee corps. The following incidents show that although situated directly under the guns of Fort No. 8, De Lancey's position was a very hazardous one, and required the utmost vigilance to guard against a surprise.

In May, 1780, Captain Cushing of the Massachusetts line, with a small detachment under his command, consisting of one hundred infantry, made an excursion to this place. The expedition appears to have been planned by his guide, Michael Dyckman, who had ascertained by close observation that the British sentinels were not in the habit of changing their countersign; the next step was the capture of one of the refugees themselves, from whom he obtained the countersign. By this means, so sudden and complete was the surprisal of the enemy on the occasion, that over forty of them were either killed or made prisoners. It was the intention to have captured De Lancey, but he was absent from his quarters. The cantonment had scarcely been turned, when a large party of Yauger horse collected and pursued Captain Cushing, but he effected his retreat with so much skill and gallantry, though charged repeatedly by the enemy, that no injury was sustained. The enemy were far advanced up the Saw Mill valley ere they relinquished the pursuit.

On this occasion Abraham Dyckman arrested Captain Ogden in Colonel Emmerick's quarters, (the house now occupied by Nathaniel P. Bailey, Esq.,) at the moment when a British sentinel was pacing the bridge within musket shot.

"On the 19th of January, 1781, (says General Heath,) 150 men from the Connecticut line and 200 from the New Hampshire line were to move towards the lines; these, with those who marched from Hazen's the day before, were to form a covering party to the detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Hull, who was to make an attempt on De Lancey's corps."a The result of the enterprise, (which took place upon the 28th of January, 1781,) is thus related by Thacher. "A detachment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hull, has returned from a successful expedition, having attacked by surprise the Royal Refugee corps under the command of the noted Colonel De Lancey, posted at Morrisania. Colonel Hull has for several months past sustained the command of a detachment of our troops posted in advance of our army, a situation requiring the most active vigilance and precaution, to guard against surprise and stratagem. In this station, as in many others, this officer has evinced his military skill and judgment. He has executed an enterprize with such address and gallantry as to merit for himself and his detachment the highest honor. He bravely forced a narrow passage to the enemy, and besides a number being killed, he took upwards of fifty prisoners, cut away the bridge,b burnt their huts and a considerable quantity of forage, and brought off a number of horses and cattle. Colonel Hull possesses in a high degree the confidence of the commander-in-chief; and for his judicious arrangements in the plan, and intrepidity and valor in the execution of the enterprize, he received the thanks of his Excellency, and afterwards of congress. The enemy pursued our troops, and fell in with a covering party, under command of Colonel Hazen, and in a skirmish which ensued, they suffered an additional loss of about thirty-five. Of Colonel Hull's detachment, one ensign, and twenty-five rank and file were killed and wounded. This suc

Heath's Mem. 271.

The pontoon bridge across Haarlem river.

cessful exploit is calculated to raise the spirits of our troops, and to divest their minds from the unhappy occurrence, which has recently taken place in camp, and at the same time it may convince the enemy that the affairs of our army are not altogether desperate."a

"4th of March, 1782, Captain Hunnewell with a body of volunteer horse, backed by the infantry under the command of Major Woodbridge made an excursion to Morrisania. The horse proceeded down between the British fort, No. 8, and the cantonment of De Lancey's corps, and having turned the cantonments between day-break and sun-rise, they entered pell mell. The enemy were completely surprised, and fled in every direction; some were cut down on the spot, others so badly wounded as not to be able to be removed. Some of the enemy availed themselves of positions where the horse could not assail them, from whence they began to fire on the house. This occcasioned the firing of the alarm guns at No. 8. The horse having nearly accomplished their design moved off, taking the Eastchester road, in which Major Woodbridge had posted the infantry in ambuscade. Captain Hunnewell had brought off one subaltern and twenty men prisoners and 20 horses. The enemy in the vicinity. collected a number of horse, backed by light infantry, and pursued Captain Hunnewell until he came to Major Woodbridge. The enemy were drawn into the ambuscade, who made one or two discharges on them, on which they broke and retired, but soon returned to the charge; skirmishing ensued, and continued to a considerable distance. Of the Americans, two privates were killed, Mr. Abraham Dyckman,b one of the guides, a brave and active man, mortally wounded, and three privates slightly wounded."c

"On the 26th of March, (says General Heath,) Mr. Dyckman,d one of our guides on the lines, with thirteen volunteer horsemen

■ Thacher's Journal, 245.

Mr. Dyckman fell at Purdy's corner near the intersection of the Eastchester and New York roads.

Heath's Mem. 330.

Michael, brother of Abraham Dyckman.

made an excursion to Morrisania, took five prisoners of De Lancey's corps and five horses; on their return they were pursued by a party of the enemy's horse, who coming rather too near, the brave volunteers faced about, charged vigorously, took one man prisoner with his horse, and put the rest to flight. The enemy again appeared," on the Eastchester road near Jonathan Ward's house," in some force, at a distance, but dared not renew the attack."a

The following is General Heath's account of the burning of Colonel Hatfield's quarters, which stood directly opposite Archer's entrance. "About this time (January, 1780,) a detachment from Colonel Mead's regiment of levies at Horseneck, and a number of volunteers from Greenwich, the former under the command of Captain Keeler, the latter under the command of Captain Lockwood, the whole about eighty, marched to Morrisania; and about one o'clock in the morning made an attack on Colonel Hatfield. They first attacked the picket, killed three, and drove the rest into the colonel's quarters. The colonel and his men took to the chambers, and fired out at the windows, and down stairs, at those who had entered the house; it appeared difficult, if possible, to dislodge them; the house was instantly set on fire, by putting a straw bed into a closet, which compelled the enemy to jump out at the chamber windows, to avoid the flames. Colonel Hatfield, one captain, one lieutenant, one quarter-master, and eleven privates were taken prisoners and brought off. This was a pretty affair, but was a litte tarnished on the return by some of the militia, who were fatigued, loitering on the road, where they supposed there was no danger; but a party of horse pursuing, overtook, killed and captured several of them."b

Many other occurrences of the saine kind might be related to show that this vicinity was constantly harassed by small parties of American volunteers, who made every effort to dislodge their wary antagonists.

Upon a lofty eminence to the north-west of the Archer house, stand the remains of Fort No. 8. "The enemy (observes Heath)

had a redoubt called No. 8 on the east side of Haarlem creek, nearly opposite to the fort on Laurel hill, and under the fire of its cannon, for the security of their advanced troops on the Morrisania side."a When the British made the bold and successful attack upon Fort Washington in 1776, the guns of No. 8, which lay directly opposite, covered the advance of the Hessians and Lord Percy. "On the 20th of October, 1782, the enemy were demolishing their works at No. 8, Morrisania."b

Fort Independence, the ruins of which are still visible on Tetard's hill, was not dismantled until 1833. Prince Charles's redoubt, and the Negro fort, both well known fortifications, in the annals of the Revolution, lie on the south side of Valentine's hill. From the former, which commands a splendid view of the surrounding country, the morning and evening gun of the British was fired.

Williams' Bridge, in the north-east corner of West Farms, is situated on the line of the Haarlem and Westchester railroad, where is a depot, thirteen and a half miles north of the City Hall; here are two taverns and a store.

The Haarlem river (Muscoota,) which forms the western boundary of the town, is one of the sweetest streams that ever gave a charm to landscape. On the Westchester shore high woods cover the sides of undulating hills, while here and there rich meadows form a gradual and beautiful descent to the water's edge. The opposite banks are abruptly terminated with rocky declivities, and present by their greater boldness a fine contrast. These waters afford an agreeable haunt to the king fisher, "the most celebrated and besung of all other birds says Aldrovand," likewise to the heron and fish hawk.

a Heath's Mem, 223.

b Heath's Mem. 357.

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