under a captain, at day-break of Thursday, May 1st, to take post on these Heights for the purpose of covering Colonel Cuyler and his men.* It was at this time they began the construction of the works already described. Besides the fortifications, a dock was constructed at the mouth of the ravine, to facilitate the loading of the boats.

From this time until the 21st of the following July the refugees held the place and proceeded with their work of cutting wood, and committing depredations on the people for miles around. The negroes of Bergen County regarded this post as the gate through which they might pass from slavery in New Jersey to freedom in the city of New York. They improved every opportunity to secure this change until they became a "burden to the Town," and the officer in charge was requested by his superior to prevent them passing the North River. Where Colonel Cuyler was at the time of the attack, and why he was absent, I do not know, but in his absence Captain Tom Ward, subsequently of Fort Delancey, a refugee post on Bergen Neck, was in command' with about seventy men.

The British army lay on the east side of the Hudson, their encampment extending as far up as Yonkers. While the position of the blockhouse was of great strength, its design was not to offer obstinate or longcontinued resistance to hostile approach. It was for temporary safety from the attacks of raiding parties of the patriots. More than in its own strength the safety of the position lay in the proximity of the British army. By crossing the river directly to the position immediate relief could be given, while by passing lower down a body could pass up the ravine of the Awiehaken and strike the rear of an attacking force by way of Three Pigeons, English Neighhorhood and Liberty Pole. A source of yet greater danger to an attacking force lay in the ease with which a body of the enemy could cross the river from Dobbs Ferry to Closter, pass up the road there constructed, and by a short march seize upon the New Bridge. This pass over the Hackensack occupied, and the body marching below seizing the "Little Ferry," an attacking force would be effectually entrapped, with no way of escape except by cutting its way through the enemy.

At the time of the attack, which is the subject of this paper, Washington's headquarters were at the "Dey House" in Preakness, and General Wayne's at Totowa, now Paterson. When and to whom first occurred the thought of destroying the block-house it is quite impossible to say. But there is no doubt that the aid and comfort which the refugees were giving to the enemy in securing a vast quantity of fuel,

and the number of cattle, owned by the farmers of Bergen County, which were liable to capture by foraging parties, suggested the propriety of breaking up this tory lodge, and driving the cattle into the American camp. The enterprise having been determined on, its execution was entrusted to General Wayne. With his usual energy he forthwith began to reconnoitre the ground and its approaches, to weigh carefully the probabilities of the post being relieved from New York City, and to prepare a warm reception for Clinton's grenadiers should they attempt to reach the heights through the passes leading up from the river.

Accompanied by Robert Erskine, Geographer of the Continental army, Wayne visited Closter on the 17th of July, and carefully considered the possibilities of the British crossing the river from Phillips' farm, and pushing on to New Bridge by way of Closter landing. How near to Bull's Ferry he extended his examination of the ground does not appear, but he was without doubt well acquainted with the locality. On the 19th he submitted to the Commander-in-Chief a plan of operations. On the following day this was approved, and he was directed to proceed with the First and Second Pennsylvania Brigades, and Colonel Moylan's dragoons, "upon the execution of the business." His cautious Chief suggested a mounted "patrol all night," to provide against an ambuscade which the enemy might attempt, from information received through their emissaries near the American lines. Immediately on receipt of this order, General Wayne directed Captain Zebulon Pike to proceed with the horse under his command towards the lower landing at Closter, where he was to keep a strict eye on the motions of the enemy encamped on the opposite side of the river. Wayne was apprehensive that they would cross in force and push on to New Bridge for the purpose of cutting off his retreat. Captain Pike was to be on the ground at "the first dawn of day," provide material for a fire, and in case the enemy indicated an intention to land on the Jersey shore, to "raise as large a smoke as possible on the summit of the hill" in the rear. Expresses with full particulars in writing were to be despatched to Wayne by way of the Liberty Pole.

With the force mentioned and four six-pounders belonging to Colonel Proctor's artillery, in all about eighteen hundred men, Wayne moved from his camp at Totowa at three o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th by the road leading to Hackensack. At nine in the evening he arrived at the New Bridge. This was a little above the village, and was the only bridge over the Hackensack River south of the old bridge.

Here he halted until one o'clock in the morning, when he again took up his line of march on the road leading to the Liberty Pole, now Englewood. To ensure the safety of the New Bridge and his line of retreat, a field officer, with one hundred rank and file, properly officered, was left at this point. The remainder of the force proceeded by way of Liberty Pole and the road leading to Bergen to the road leading from the latter, at what is now Leeonia, to Fort Lee. Here the Second Brigade marched up the Fort Lee road to the Palisades; the Sixth Regiment to the lookout directly opposite to Spuyten Duyvel Creek, the Seventh to Fort Lee to observe the motions of the enemy on York Island. These two regiments lay concealed from observation, but ready to meet the enemy should they land and enter the defiles. LieutenantColonel Harmer also posted a captain and forty men on the bank overlooking the landing opposite to Spuyten Duyvel, while he, with the remainder of his command, advanced southerly along the summit of the mountain about one mile towards Fort Lee, so as to be in a position to defend either place. Patrols were ordered to pass constantly between these points. General Irvine, with the remainder of his (Second) brigade, moved from Fort Lee on the mountain towards Bull's Ferry. As he moved along he threw out a chain of flankers upon his right, to beat up the enemy if, having scented the movement, they had prepared an ambush. From Bull's Ferry he moved along the river at the foot of the rocks and took a position on the plateau, near the landing, in order to cut off the retreat of the garrison to the boats.

The First Brigade, under Colonel Humpton, with whom were also General Wayne, Moylan's dragoons, and the artillery, moved along the open road by way of English Neighborhood to Bull's Ferry. Before leaving the old road, Wayne ordered Colonel Moylan to mount a foot soldier behind each of his dragoons, and ride with all possible speed towards Bergen. On arriving at the Three Pigeons, he left one or two horsemen and some foot to take post at that place to cover him from any attempt of the enemy by way of Weehawken. A detachment of foot also marched to the same point to aid the cavalry in case of need. With the remainder of his dragoons and mounted foot Colonel Moylan proceeded to and occupied the fork of the road leading to Paulus. Hoeck and Bergen. This point was, in my opinion,. on the top of Weehawken Hill. Here the road divided, one leading to the town of Bergen and Paulus Hoeck, and the other to Weehawken Ferry. By occupying this position he was sure to intercept an enemy coming from Paulus Hoeck or from New York by way of Weehawken. No evidence

has been found to justify a conclusion that the dragoons went nearer Bergen on this occasion. And the fact that one month afterward Bergen Neck was foraged of its cattle, seems to justify a belief that they did not. So that the cattle collected and driven off in this expedition must have been found between the present Union Hill and the New Bridge. This finds corroboration in Major André's "Cow Chase,' which as a whole may be regarded as more historial than poetical.

I under cover of th' attack

Whilst you are all at blows,

From English Neighb'rood and Tinack
Will drive away the cows.

On arriving near the block-house, at about ten o'clock in the morning, Wayne reconnoitered the works. The First Regiment was posted in a hollow way about one hundred yards to the north of the blockhouse; the Second covered the artillery, and the Tenth occupied the ravine to cut off the retreat of the garrison towards Paulus Hoeck. The First and Tenth Regiments were ordered to keep up a constant fire into the port-holes of the block-house to favor the advance of the artillery. These dispositions having been made, at eleven o'clock the artillery advanced to the medium distance of sixty yards from the block-house and opened fire. Without intermission, the cannonade was kept up until a quarter after twelve. During this time fifty-two shots penetrated the front of the block-house, its two small guns were dismounted, and Five Refugees ('tis true) were found,

Stiff on the block-house floor.

That any of the shot which penetrated the house passed through, I have no other evidence than the fact that on the opposite side of the ravine two six-pound shot have recently been found, and the following stanza from the "Cow Chase: "

No shot could pass, if you will take

The Gen'ral's Word for true;

But 'tis a d―ble Mistake,

For every Shot went thro'.

But the refugees stationed in different parts of their defences maintained a stubborn resistance, and fired upon the assailants with telling effect. At this point of time, Wayne received a despatch from Captain Pike at Closter landing that the enemy at Valentine's Hill had embarked about three thousand troops on board of nine ships, one schooner and two sloops, and were beating down the river. Convinced of his inability. to destroy the block-house with the light guns he had, and expecting