Part 11 (2/2)

=Teller's Point= (sometimes known as Croton or Underhill's Point), separates Tappan Zee from Haverstraw Bay. It was called by the Indians ”Senasqua.” Tradition says that ancient warriors still haunt the surrounding glens and woods, and the sachems of Teller's Point are household words in the neighborhood. It is also said that there was once a great Indian battle here, and perhaps the ghosts of the old warriors are attracted by the Underhill grapery and the 10,000 gallons of wine bottled every season.

It was here the British wars.h.i.+p ”The Vulture,” came with Andre and put him ash.o.r.e at the foot of Mount Tor below Haverstraw.

The river now opens into a beautiful bay, four miles in width,--a bed large enough to tuck up fifteen River Rhines side by side. This reach sometimes seems in the bright sunlight like a molten bay of silver, and the tourist finds relief in adjusting his smoked gla.s.ses to temper the dazzling light.

Beneath these gold and azure skies The river winds through leafy glades, Save where, like battlements, arise The gray and tufted Palisades.

_Henry T. Tuckerman._

=Haverstraw=, 37 miles from New York. Haverstraw Bay is sometimes said to be five miles wide. Its widest point, however, from Croton Landing to Haverstraw, is, according to United States Geological Survey, a little over four miles. The princ.i.p.al industry of Haverstraw is brick-making, and its brick yards reaching north to Gra.s.sy Point, are of materal profit, if not picturesque. The place was called Haverstraw by the Dutch, perhaps as a place of rye straw, to distinguish it from Tarrytown, a place of wheat. The Indian name has been lost; but, if its original derivation is uncertain, it at least calls up the rhyme of old-time river captains, which Captain Anderson of the ”Mary Powell” told the writer he used to hear frequently when a boy:

”West Point and Middletown, Konnosook and Doodletown, Kakiak and Mamapaw, Stony Point and Haverstraw.”

Quaint as these names now sound, they all are found on old maps of the Hudson.

=High Torn= is the name of the northern point of the Ramapo on the west bank, south of Haverstraw. According to the Coast Survey, it is 820 feet above tide-water, and the view from the summit is grand and extensive. The origin of the name is not clear, but it has lately occurred to the writer, from a re-reading of Scott's ”Peveril of the Peak,” that it might have been named from the Torn, a mountain in Derbys.h.i.+re, either from its appearance, or by some patriotic settler from the central water-shed of England. Others say it is the Devons.h.i.+re word Tor changed to Torn, evidently derived from the same source.

Emerging from these confused piles, the river as if rejoicing at its release from its struggle, expanded into a wide bay, which was ornamented by a few fertile and low points that jutted humbly into its broad basin.

_James Fenimore Cooper._

=West Sh.o.r.e Railroad.=--The tourist will see at this point, on the left bank of the river, the tunnel whereby the ”West Sh.o.r.e” finds egress from the mountains. The traveler over this railway, on emerging from the quiet valley west of the Palisades, comes upon a sudden vision of beauty unrivaled in any land. The broad river seems like a great inland lake; and the height of the tunnel above the silver bay gives to the panoramic landscape a wondrous charm. About a mile from the river, southwest of Gra.s.sy Point, on the farther side of the winding Minnissickuongo Creek, which finally after long meandering makes up its mind to glide into Stony Point Bay, will be seen Treason Hill marked by the Joshua Hett Smith stone house where Arnold and Andre met. The story of this meeting will be referred to at greater length in connection with its most dramatic incident at the old Beverley House in the Highlands. The Hudson here is about two miles in width and narrows rapidly as we pa.s.s Gra.s.sy Point on the west bank with its meadows and brick yards to

=Stony Point=, where it is scarcely more than half a mile to Verplank's Point on the eastern bank. This was, therefore, an important pa.s.s during the Revolution. The crossing near at hand was known as King's Ferry, at and before the days of '76, and was quite an avenue of travel between the Southern, Middle and Eastern States. The fort crowning a commanding headland, was captured by the British, June 1, 1779, but it was surprised and recaptured by Anthony Wayne, July 15 of the same year. A centennial was observed at the place July 15, 1879, when the battle was ”refought” and the West Point Cadets showed how they would have done it if they had been on hand a century ago.

Thackeray, in his ”Virginians,” gives perhaps the most graphic account of this midnight battle. The present light-house occupies the site of the old fort, and was built in part of stone taken from its walls.

Upon its capture by the British, Was.h.i.+ngton, whose headquarters were at New Windsor, meditated a bold stroke and summoned Anthony Wayne, more generally known as ”Mad Anthony,” from his reckless daring, to undertake its recapture with a force of one thousand picked men. The lines were formed in two columns about 8 p.m. at ”Springsteel's farm.”

Each soldier and officer put a piece of white paper in his hat to distinguish him from the foe. No guns were to be loaded under penalty of death. General Wayne, at the head of the column, forded the marsh covered at the time with two feet of water. The other column led by Butler and Murfree crossed an apology for a bridge. During the advance both columns were discovered by the British sentinels and the rocky defense literally blazed with musketry. In stern silence, however, without faltering, the American columns moved forward, entered the abatis, until the advance guard under Anthony Wayne was within the enemy's works. A bullet at this moment struck Wayne in the forehead grazing his skull. Quickly recovering from the shock, he rose to his knees, shouted: ”Forward, my brave fellows”; then turning to two of his followers, he asked them to help him into the fort that he might die, if it were to be so, ”in possession of the spot.” Both columns were now at hand and inspired by the brave general, came pouring in, crying ”The fort's our own.” The British troops completely overwhelmed, were fain to surrender and called for mercy. Wayne's characteristic message to Was.h.i.+ngton antedates modern telegraphic brevity:--”Stony Point, 2 o'clock a.m. The American flag waves here.--Mad Anthony.” There were twenty killed and sixty wounded on each side. Some five hundred of the enemy were captured and about sixty escaped. ”Money rewards and medals were given to Wayne and the leaders in the a.s.sault. The ordinance and stores captured were appraised at over $180,000 and there was universal rejoicing”

throughout the land. ”Stony Point State Park” was dedicated by appropriate ceremony July 16, 1902. At the close of Governor Odell's address the flag was raised by William Wayne, a lineal descendant of the hero, and the cruiser ”Olympia” of Manila fame boomed forth her tribute. Verplank's Point, on the east bank (now full of brick-making establishments), was the site of Fort Lafayette. It was here that Baron Steuben drilled the soldiers of the American army. Back from Green Cove above Verplanck's Point is ”Knickerbocker Lake.”

The star spangled banner, the flag of the brave, And the cross of old England in amity wave, But if ever the nations do battle again G.o.d send us such soldiers as Anthony Wayne.

_Minna Irving._

The echoes that so boldly rung When cannon flashed from steep to steep, And freedom's airy challenge flung, In each romantic valley sleep.

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