Surgeons: George W. Bertholf, 1880; Charles J. Nordquist, 1881 and 1882; Julius Dieckman, 1883; J. Q. A. Hollister, 1884 and 1885. Officers of the Day: Wm. Wilson, Jr., 1880, 1881 and 1882; Samuel Tiebaut, 1883; J. L. D. Riker, 1884; John G. Fay, 1885. Officers of the Guard: J. L. D. Riker, 1880, 1881, 1882 and 1883; Will. H. Mercer, 1884 and 1885. Quartermasters: Andrew Bridgeman, 1880; Samuel Tiebaut, 1881; Herman Weiss, 1882, 1883, 1884 and 1885. Adjutants: W. G. Thiselton, 1880, died; Wm. A. Anderson, 1880, 1881 and 1882; James H. Jenkins, 1883 and 1884; Wm. Wilson, Jr., 1885. Sergeant-Major: John H. Davis, 1880 to 1885. The officers for 1886 are as follows: Senior Vice-Commander: Joseph H. Porter (third term). Officer of the Guard: William H. Mercer (second term). Past Commanders: Nathan Van Horson, George W. Beil. The names of the comrades of the post are as follows, with their regiments and military history in brief: James N. Jenkins, captain, 23d C. V., three years; F. Whittaker, lieutenant, 6th N. Y. Cav., four years; John G. Fay, captain, 3d N. Y. Inf., three years; A. Bridgeman, sergeant, 5th N. Y. Cav., three years; W. G. Thiselton,* first sergeant, 6th N. Y. H. Art., three years; Wm. Wilson, Jr., captain, 33d N. J. Inf., four years; N. Van Norson,† private, 79th N. Y. Inf., three years; D. E. Norton, private, 6th N. Y. H. Art., three years; J. L. D. Riker, private, 14th N. Y. Inf., three years; George Bertholf. private, 39th N. J. Inf, nine months; Fred. Sauter,* private, 8th N. Y. H. Art, two years; Oliver Root,† private, 6th N. Y. H. Art., three years; S. O. Howe, private, 8th N. Y. M., three months; Henry S. Sproull, private, 71st N. Y. M., three months; Wm. A. Anderson, hospital steward, U. S. A., three and one-half years; Samuel Tiebaut, second lieutenant, 5th N. Y. Inf., two years; James B. Spicer, private, 22d N. Y. M., three months; Simon Sternhagen, sergeant, 1st N. Y. M. R., three years and four months; Michael Redmond,* sergeant, Reilly, first lieutenant, 5th N. Y. Cav., four years and two months; Da vid C. Curtis, quartermaster, 173d N. Y., one year; John S. Tyler, corporal, 7th Mich., 15th U. S., three years; L. A. Van Buskirk, private, 33d N. J., two years; Nelson Jenkins, private, 39th N. J., nine months ; Chas. J. Chatfield, first lieutenant, 23d N. Y., three years and four months; George W. Cooper, captain, 71st N. Y., two years and three months; John Meier,† sergeant, 52d N. Y., three years; Oscar H. Riker, private, 5th N. J. Battery, one year and eight months; Jerome Chappell, quartermaster-sergeant, 82d N. Y., three years; J. Q. A. Hollister, † cap. tain, 112th N. Y., three years; David Lyon, private, 38th N. Y., two years and three months; J. Stewart, private, 8th Wisc., one year: Wm. H. Mandeville, sergeant, 5th N. Y. Ind. Battery, three years. This closes the record of the Post to date. Since the above was written T. Whittaker has left the Post and joined Chas. Lawrence Post, No. 387, of Port Chester. H. B. Hidden Post, No. 330, of City Island.--This post was organized by Comrade James H. Jenkins, of Farnsworth Post, January 27, 1883. The charter members were,- George E. Pinckney, first lieutenant, 131st N. Y.; Oswald Bergen, U. S. S. "Santee;" Joseph H. Glazier, 84th N. Y.; William Sconstough, U. S. S." Wissahickon; Henry Buhre.† 25th N. Y.; Theodore Bishop, U. S. S. "San Jacinto; Eugene Reed, 32d “ Maine; S. T. Graham, U. S. N.; William B. Miller, 5th N. Y.; George W. Banta, 176th N. Y., and Jerome Bell, 1st N. Y. Cav. Since organization the following have been mustered into the post: Richard Sherwood, 135th N. Y.; E. H. Gurney, 8th N. Y. Cav.; Johr. S. Secord, 6th N. Y. H. Art.; William McGloin, U. S. S. “Vincennes;" Michael Egan, 45th N. Y.; John McNamara, 1st N. Y. M. Rifles; Robert Brown, Ellsworth Zouaves; Thomas McCarty, 1st N. Y. Cav. The Commanders of the post to date are as follows: Jerome Bell, 1883; George E. Pinckney, 1884; Jerome Bell, 1885, During the past year this Post has moved its headquarters to New York City. Charles Lawrence Post, No. 378.--This post was or 127th N. Y. Iuf., three years; Leonard D. Tice, captain, 5th Vermont, ganized on the 29th of May, 1883, and mustered into three years; C. J. Nordquist, major, 9th N. Y. S. M., three years; Vincent Morgan, 6th N. Y. H. Art.; John L. Tice,*+ private, 5th Vermont, three years; John L. Piper, private, 11th N. Y. V., seven months; Newton C. Dealing, private, 33d N. J., V., three years; Joseph H. Porter, corporal, 13th N. Y. Cav., two years; Jacob Scheuermann, 17th N. Y. S. M., thirty days; S. M. Saunders, captain, 158th N. Y., three months; H. S. Schenck, private, 38th N. Y., two years; Herman Slagle, private, 1st N. Y. V., four years; H. C. Weiss, sergeant, 6th N. Y. H. Art., three years; George Van Pelt, sergeant, 158th N. Y., three years; John II. Davis, private, 12th N. Y., one year; Stephen P. Hunt, private, 8th N. Y. H. Art., eighteen months; Alfred Cooley, captain and brevet ma jor, 156th N. Y., three years; Gideon D. Pond, private, 19th Conn., four months; George H. Brown, sergeant, 6th Ind. N. Y. Battery, three years; Valentine M. Hodgson, first sergeant and brevet captain, 67th N. Y. Res. Corps, five years; John Koedding, private, 58th N. Y., three years; William Mitchell, private, 168th N. Y., two years and eight months, det. serv. 2d U. S. II. Art.; Nicholas Wilhelm, private 58th N. Y., one year and four months; William Mercer, corporal, 6th N. Y. H. Art., three years; John S. Willis, corporal, 1st N. Y. Engineers, three years; Anton Russi, private, 3d N. J. Battery, two years; Lewis Kessler, landsman navy, one year and three months; Michael P. Murphy, sergeant, 61st N. Y., one year and two months; W. N. Valentine, corporal, 1st N. Y. Cav., four years; Julius Dieckman,* major, 15th N. Y. H. Art., four years and six months; John P. Kracher, private, 6th N. Y. H. Art., two years and nine months; N. Buckley, private, 9th N. J., two years and one month; Paul Wagner, private, 41st N. Y., three years; John Zimmer, private, 15th N. Y. H. Art., one year and nine months; T. M. service by Comrade Frederick Whittaker, of Farnsworth Post No. 170, of Mount Vernon, in time for Decoration Day. The charter members were: Richard Enoch, Charles De Mott, J. J. Martin, Matthew Douglass, Whitman Sackett, John E. Weed, W. H. Mosier, J. A. Louden, George Bulkley, Henry Dietz, Nicholas Fox, Daniel Booth, Thomas McGovern The officers of the post to date are as follows: Commanders: Richard Enoch, 1883 and 1884; Charles De Mott, 1885. Senior Vice-Commanders: J. J. Martin, 1883; John Foran, 1884 and 1885. Junior Vice-Commanders: Whitman Sackett, 1883; Ardemas Barnes, 1884; Nicholas Fox, 1885. Surgeons: William H. Hyler, 1883; N. J. Sands, 1884 and 1885, † Wounded. Commander, John Foran; Senior Vice-Commander, Nicholas Fox.; Junior Vice-Commander, Charles Hughes; Surgeon, Dr. N. J. Sands; Chaplain, Rev. W. F. Wakefield; Officer of the Day, George W. Bulkley; Officer of the Guard, John A. Louden; Adjutant, Richard Euoch; Quartermaster, William H. Hyler; Sergeant-Major, Charles de Mott; Quartermarter-Sergeant, Henry Dietz. The following is a list of the comrades of the post to date, with a record of service: Nicholas Fox, 28th Conn., three years; Daniel Booth, 17th Conn, three years; Charles Hoeple, 28th Conn., three years; John Sherwood, 10th Conn., three years; J. H. Rascoe,† 5th Conn., three years; Albro Weir,† 25th Conn., three years; Charles Hughes, 10th Conn., three years; William H. Bailey, 6th Conn., three years; W. Sackett, † 17th Conn., three years; J. A. Louden, 17th Coun., three years; John Foran, 1st Mass. H. Art. ; H. D. Cordner, 1st Mass. H. Art., three years; T. J. Coles, 5th Mass. Vol., three years; H. M. Lisle, 1st N. Y. Vol., three years; Ardemas Barnes, Amasa Conover, Henry Dietz,† Geo. Buckley and J. J. Martin, all of 17th N. Y. Vol. (the Port Chester com Brown, 53d Ky.; James S. Snedeker, landsman, gunboat "Hybiscus;' Ward B. Burnett Post, No. 496, of Tarrytown.-This pany); William Smith,† 70th N. Y. Vol., three years; G J. McBride, Peekskill, was the organizer and first Commander of 97th N. Y. Vol., three years; Stephen Bluxomel,† 127th N. Y. Vol., this post for 1884, and was succeeded by C. J. Car- The charter members were: Richard B. Coutant, Charles N. McCutchen, Henry White, J. C. Jones, Louis Helwig, Thomas Arthur, Charles Humphreys, Joseph 8. M. Slagle, J. J. Linson, Alexander Hamilton, Jacob Van Tassell, Harry J. Parnell, C. T. Carpenter, E. T. Yocom, Thomas Rawcliffe, William Covert, Bishop Armstrong, William C. Cushing, Jacob Wood, Henry Humphreys, George B. Cypher and James D. See. Of the New York State Militia, mustered into the United States service for periods of three months or more, there are: Henry Dietz, J. J. Post and E. F. Terhune, 71st ; N. J. Sands, 15th; C. H. Kniffen, 15th; William Morrison, 15th; George E. Jardine, 37th Regiments. Cromwell Post, No. 466, of White Plains.-This post was organized March 19, 1884, by Comrade James H. Jenkins, of Farnsworth Post. The charter members were Valentine M. Hodgson, Edward B. Long, John C. Verplanck, George W. Brown, Edward W. Bogart, Henry I. Williams, Berlin K. Palmer, David P. Barnes, George W. Coventry, James S. Snedeker, Richard Roach, Charles Whiston and George Lewis. Valentine M. Hodgson was Commander for 1884, and the officers for 1885 were Commander, Edward B. Long; S. V. C., Crawford N. Smith; J. V. C., George W. Coventry; Surgeon, David P. Barness; Chaplain, David W. Bogart; Officer of Day, George W. Brown; Officer of Guard, Henry J. Williams; Adjutant, Edward W. Bogart; Q. M., Berlin H. Palmer; Q. M. S., James McCarty. Since organization of the post the following members have been mustered in: Thomas Birdsall, Thomas Taxter, Sylvester Gesner, B. Frank Davis and Elias Bryant. The list sent by the Commander of the post did not B. F. Davis and C. J. Carpenter belonged to the Seventh and Eighth Regiments of New York Militia, respectively, and served for three and six months. The post, in succeeding one that had succumbed, after a struggle of several years, has probably but a short existence before it. Of the charter members several seem to have joined by transfer from other posts. C. Theodore Carpenter, Commander ;'Edward S. Yocom, Senior Vicecommander; Thomas Rawcliff, Junior Vice-Commander; William E. Cushing, Adjutant; Bishop Armstrong, Quartermaster; Thomas Birdsall, Chaplain; Jacob W. Wood, Officer of Day; Heury Humphrey, Officer of Guard. Horatio Seymour Post, No. 590, of Yonkers.—This post was mustered in at Yonkers on Tuesday, June 29, 1886, by Comrade John C. Shotts, of Kitching Post, with the following membership: Commander: Frederic Shonnard, major, 6th N. Y. H. A.; Senior ViceCommander: Fisher A. Baker, heutenant-colonel, 18th Mass. Vol.; Junior Vice-Commander: Edward J. Maxwell, first lieutenant, 634 N. Y. Vol.; Surgeon: Dr. Galusha B. Balch, assistant surgeon, 2d N. Y. Vet. Cav.; Chaplain : John Forsyth ; Officer of the Day: James V. Lawrence; brevet-major, Gen. Staff; Officer of the Guard: Augustus W, Nichol; Quartermaster: William Welsh, captain, 68th N. Y. Vol. (by proxy of Comrade Matt. Ellis, formerly of Kitching Post); Adjutant: James F. Farrell, captain, 5th N. Y. Art.; Sergeant-Major: George W. Farnum, corporal, 23d Conn. Vol.; Quartermaster-Sergeant: Thos. Ewing, brevet The following is a list of the members, with their major general, Army of the Frontier. military history in brief: Valentine M. Hodgson, first lieutenant, 67th N. Y.; Edward B. Long, 1st N. J.; John C. Verplanck, musician, 32d N. Y.; George W † Wounded. Frederick "Whittaken CHAPTER X. WESTCHESTER COUNTY AT THE PRESENT DAY. BY J. THOMAS SCHARF, A.M., LL.D. ONE has but to glance at any good map of New York City to realize what must with almost absolute certainty be the rare good fortune of Westchester County. The great metropolis has already stretched its briarean arms in all directions from its northern limits, and its geographical necessities compel it to spread outward like a fan over the surface of Westchester County. Its present corporate shape may be compared to the Cleopatra's needle, which now forms one of its notable monuments. The city is, in fact, a rude obelisk, with its base on the boundary line of Yonkers and its apex at the Battery. The general uniformity of the outline is preserved on the one side by the East River and on the other side, and much more regularly, by the Hudson. These great water highways necessarily interpose a formidable obstacle to the spread of population in either direction, and although the introduction of steam ferriage and the construction of the Brooklyn bridge have modified the inconveniences of transit across broad rivers, the general trend of population continues to the northward. Elevated railroads and the development of transportation facilities have brought all portions of the county within easy reach, and New York is steadily absorbing the outlying territory. Morrisania and Fordham have already been appropriated, and, with the accelerated ratio of increasing population, the day is probably not far distant when almost the entire county will have become little more than a suburb of New York, A writer of twenty years ago,' speaking of the contemplated improvements beyond the then northern boundaries of the city, says: "Assuredly this region will be the site of the future magnificence of this metropolis. During the coming five or ten years the Fifth Avenue will no doubt be soonest built up, and built up grandly, but the city will not stop on that account; it will be succeeded by an age of imperial magnificence. That will be the day for the now neglected west side of the island. The poetical prophecy, 'Westward the star of empire takes its way,' and which is fast becoming historical truth, will receive another illustration." Much of this prediction has already been realized and a comparatively brief period in the future may be expected to work a wonderful transformation in the physiognomy of those portions of Westchester County which as yet have not assumed the distinctively urban character. While the people of Westchester may felicitate themselves on the added prosperity and increase in 1 The Growth of New York, New York, 1865, p. 42. values of property which the change will involve, they will have to deplore the inevitable loss in picturesqueness, beauty and variety of interest which the county now presents to the eye in such eminent degree. Cities are ruthless destroyers of rural scenery. They fill up the bosky dells, demolish the picturesque crag and towering hill, mow down the lordly giants of the forest and annihilate the general aspect of rural loveliness and peace. The least sentimental of landowners must regret the inflow of urban population, when, as in Westchester, it involves the destruction of as lovely bits of landscape as the eye of man ever rested on. Traversed by picturesque ridges and romantic streams, with the blue expanse of Long Island Sound on the one side and the lordly Hudson on the other, the county is exceptionally favored by nature, and there is no strip of territory of equal extent in the whole country which combines in the same degree advantages of location and beauty of surface with the artificial adornments wrought in the lapse of many generations by intelligent direction and skill. While the bolder beauties of the Hudson are not comprised within its limits, its territory adjacent to the borders of that classic stream has long been a favorite theme for song and story. Cooper, Paulding and Irving have drawn a rich store of literary material from within its confines, and the bold, original genius of Poe found much of its inspiration while the poet was roaming along the banks of the river or gazing from the windows of his little cottage at Fordham. The development along the shore of the Hudson is a striking indication of what may be anticipated for the whole of Westchester County. "The whole region of country bordering the Hudson River, north of Spuyten Duyvel," says a writer," "was, until within a very recent period, occupied by isolated residences and grand estates, some of them embracing several thousand acres. Notable examples were the Philipse and Livingston Manors, the titles to which came directly from the crown. Gradually these extensive tracts were sub-divided, leaving still, however, large areas in the possession of single individuals. Many of these smaller estates have undergone a process of improvement and embellishment, until the lordly mansions on the Hudson have become famed on both sides of the Atlantic for their beauty and picturesque surroundings. ... Art has done its share to add to the charms of the landscape. Here are the residences of many leading New Yorkers,-elegant, comfortable homes, surrounded with tastefully ornamented grounds, and presenting all the evidences of that domestic enjoyment which is, after all, the sun of human happiness." Following the course of the Hudson within the boundaries of Westchester County, we pass in succes 2 Description and Map of Castle Ridge, Tarrytown. sion through many noted localities. The first point of interest is High Bridge, now within the corporate limits of New York, which carries the waters of the Croton Reservoir across the valley of the Harlem River at an elevation of one hundred feet, and is one of the noted engineering triumphs of the world. The hamlet of King's Bridge is charmingly located in a beautiful valley, near the point where the Harlem flows into the Hudson. High, rolling hills encompass it, on the crests of which are fortifications and fine growths of timber. The locality was first selected by the Dutch as the site of their projected city, New Amsterdam, but afterwards abandoned. After leaving King's Bridge we approach the city of Yonkers, the largest town in the county, pausing by the way to take a glance at Fort Washington and the Spuyten Duyvel. From Manhattanville to Fort Washington, two miles below Spuyten Duyvel, the shore line presents a fine range of heights, once hand Westchester County proper begins at the Spuyten Duyvel. The scenery in the immediate vicinity is very fine. At Riverdale Station, on the Hudson River Railroad (the first station beyond the Spuyten Duyvel), a splendid view is had of the Hudson, with the villas clustered along the eastern bank and the Palisades showing their perpendicular fronts against the swelling outlines of the Ramapo Range. The city of Yonkers is seen in the distance, and near at hand are the convent of Mount St. Vincent and the castlelike mansion (belonging to the convent) which was formerly the property of Edwin Forrest, the tragedian. The scenery in the immediate neighborhood is made up of undulating hills, sloping gently to the river's range, with innumerable mansions and cottages embowered in trees. The settlement of Riverdale is unique in its way, being a group of handsome residences, the effect of which is unbroken by meaner dwellings or business houses. somely wooded. The mounds of the old fort mark a spot which was famous in Revolutionary annals. The loss of this important post, followed, as it was, shortly afterward by the fall of Fort Lee, on the opposite bank of the Hudson, was a disastrous blow to the American cause and spread consternation and gloom throughout the colonies. Washington Heights, which crown the ridge near the site of Fort Washington, are the site of many fine residences. The Spuyten Duyvel, it is said, derives its name from a legendary anecdote narrated by Washington Irving, who ascribes the performance from which it arose to Anthony Van Corlaer, trumpeter to the doughty Governor Stuyvesant. The original legend asserts that a valiant Dutchman, obstinately bent on crossing the stream in a storm, attempted to swim across "en spyt den duyvel" (in spite of the devil), but midway sank and was seen no more. 1 From "Hudson River Illustrated." Copyright, 1875. By D. Appleton & Co. The approach to the city of Yonkers is extremely interesting and picturesque. Handsome knolls and ranges of hills line the edge of the valley, and, on a fine eminence, is the large stone mansion of the Van Cortlandts, the road to which lies through the wooded range known as "Cortlandt's Ridge." It passes over a deep ravine, through which flows a sparkling brook, and is lined by masses of jagged rock. In front of the mansion a handsome view is obtained of the valley of Yonkers, and at the foot of the hill flows Tippet's Brook. On the west side of the ridge is a charming view of the Hudson River, the Palisades and adjacent hills. The ancient residence of the Cortlandt family stands in the valley below, about a mile from King's Bridge. A portion of the estate has been laid out as a park. Yonkers, seventeen miles from the City Hall of New York, is doubly interesting from its historical associations and its size and importance as the principal town in the county. As the seat of the Philipse The Manor it was formerly known as Philipsburgh. Hastings, the first village above Yonkers, is the spot where Cornwallis, after the fall of Fort Washington, crossed the river to attack Fort Lee. About a mile further on is Dobbs Ferry, near which was fought the the river, embowered in a dense growth of shrubbery. It is of stone, with many gables, the eastern side being clothed with ivy from slips presented to Irving by Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford. The original structure was the "Woolfert's Roost," which gives its title to one of Irving's sketches. On the opposite bank is Tappan, memorable as the scene of the massacre of Baylor's regiment by the British under General Grey, and from the fact that about a mile from the town Major Andre, the victim of Arnold's treachery, was executed and buried. Tarrytown, about a mile beyond Tappan and on the eastern side of the river, was the scene of Andre's capture. Here was erected a monument in honor of battle of White Plains in October, 1776. The Living- | Van Wart, who was one of the three American miliston manor-house, near by, was the headquarters of Washington and also the spot where the conference was held in 1783, between George Clinton and Sir Guy Carleton, the British commander, with reference to the evacuation of New York City. At Dobbs Ferry the Hudson widens into a bay which is known as the Tappan Zee. Irvington, in the immediate vicinity of Dobbs Ferry, derives its name from Washington Irving, whose former residence, "Sunnyside," is one of the chief points of retreat on the river. It stands near tiamen who seized the unfortunate young officer. Here also is the famous old Dutch Church, heavy with the marks of more than two centuries, and Sleepy Hollow, described by Irving in his well-known legend narrating the luckless courtship of Ichabod Crane. The neighborhood is rich in interesting associations growing out of the residence here for many years of Washington Irving and members of his household; and the romantic beauty of the surroundings fully fortifies the deep and strong affection which Irving contracted for his riverside cottage and the adjacent neighborhood. Tarrytown is now a charming sub 1 From "Hudson River Illustrated." Copyright, 1875. By D. Apple- urban locality, its hills affording handsome sites for ton & Co. many beautiful villas surrounded by well-kept gardens |