Entering, Exploring, and Leaving New York 

Arriving at the Allied Encampment Jul 2 -- The French army next stayed at Bedford (14 miles via Ridgebury Road south to Wallace Road, west to North Salem, and south on Rt 121). No plan of the bivouack is available. The Second Brigade skipped the Bedford camp. Lauzun's hussars (who had arrived a few days previously) joined Continental troops under Gen. Benjamin Lincoln in an attack on British posts at the northern tip of Manhattan Island. The initial stages did not go well, so the attack was aborted. Jul 3-6 -- The French troops marched 5 miles via State Rts 172 and 117 and stayed several days at New Castle (North Castle). This is now the Leonard Park - Northern Westchester Hospital area of Mount Kisco. [See The Westchester Historian, Fall 1981.] The French troops then marched 16 miles west via Rt 133 and south via Route 100 through Hawthorne to Philipsburg (now the Ardsley / Hartsdale area). [See The Westchester Historian, Fall 1981.]

The New York portion of the W3R campsite map.
NOTE: These W3R campsite-and-trail maps were developed
during the 2000-2005 National Park Service study of significance,
feasibility, and environmental impact.
The orientation is tilted; north is about 45-degrees left of straight up.

A Note about "Official" W3R Routes

Details of the Allied Encampment The layout of the allied encampment in the summer of 1781 was captured in a detailed drawing of the Dobb's Ferry area by Berthier, the principal cartographer accompanying the French Expeditionary Force. His map legend notes that there were about 4,000 Ameicans and 5,000 French troops in the camps near Dobb's Ferry from July 6 to August 19, 1781. NOTE: The settlement was incorporated as the Village of Dobbs Ferry in 1873. It is now a subdivision of the town of Greenburgh, which covers most of the area in the two maps below. Dr. Richard Borkow, historian for Dobbs Ferry, transcribed Berthier's locations of the major campsites onto a modern map of the area (see below). The base maps are © 2005 DeLorme (www.delorme.com) Street Atlas USAź The American units were already established in camps located near the river crossing known as Dobbs' Ferry. 1. The Continental Army Camp was north and south of Heatherdell Road. 6. Scammel's Light Infantry was on high ground that is now Childrens' Village. 7. Sheldon's Dragoons are noted at two locations. One location (7a) was a redoubt, whose remains were found at the junction of Broadway and Livingston, on high ground overlooking the river. See also number 11. The second location (7b) was shown by Berthier at the junction of Broadway and Ashford, but was more likely (or perhaps at another date) on the flat terrain behind what is now Villard Hill (near Cloverdale Road), as shown on map 41 of American Campaigns of Rochambeau's Armies. This has an even better view of the Hudson River for detecting enemy approach. 8. Washington's headquarters were the Appleby House, now radio station WFAS. 11. Contemoporary documents note that the battery of cannon was located in the redoubt (with Sheldon's Dragoons -- 7a) The number 11 is not shown on Berthier's map. The French units used camps that were farther from the river, some on the 1776 battlefield at White Plains. 2. The French camp was on Underhill Road. 3. The French grenadiers and chausseurs were on Battle Hill in the White Plains National Battlefield. 4. Lauzun's Legion (two locations) were northeast of Battle Hill. 5. Waterbury's Corps was a bit southeast of Battle Hill. 9. Rochambeau's headquarters were at what is now known as the Odell House. 10. The French Hospital was probably on Old Tarrytown Road.

Testing the Defenses around New York City Jul 5 - Aug 19 -- The troops spent the next six weeks in several campsites around Philipsburg (now the Dobbs Ferry / Ardsley / Hartsdale / White Plains area). Rochambeau was quartered at the Odell farm, at 425 Ridge Road, Hartsdale NY. This is still standing and is used as a museum. Washington's headquarters were where the Ardsley High School now stands. Maj. Gen. Chastellux stayed at a house that is still standing on Healy Ave. South (Scarsdale NY) near the eastern border of the Sunningdale Country Club. The allies sent strong parties to probe the British lines for weakness. The British had spent five years developing their defenses, which included thousands of troops and a strong fleet. It was going to be hard to dislodge them from New York City. 1781 Jul 12: French troops from the allied camps near White Plains NY were ferried across Long Island Sound to raid the Tory fort at Lloyd Neck (on Long Island) NY. "First Amphibious Assault against the English" by David R. Wagner (used with the artist's permission) General Clinton Waffles: The allied commanders studied the disposition of British troops and defenses in the New York area and considered how they might use their combined army of 9,000 men to attack and dislodge British Gen. Clinton and his 14,000 troops from New York City. There seemed to be no promising options. However, the proximity of such a large enemy force led Clinton to ask Cornwallis      --- first (July 8) to send 3,000 troops to Philadelphia (so Cornwallis moved his army toward Portsmouth VA)      --- then (July 12) to send them to New York,      --- then (July 20) to keep them in Virginia so as to hold a naval station that would allow Cornwallis to receive relief troops from a British fleet. At this point Cornwallis moved to take and hold Yorktown. Shipping Gold to Finance a Global War: During this time French Admiral de Grasse was in the Caribbean, engaging the British fleet there and gathering the supplies needed for the trip north. In order to save the trouble of Spain shipping gold from South American across the ocean to Spain and then France shipping gold across the ocean to the Caribbean the French and Spanish devised an interesting scheme. The French fleet would borrow gold from Spanish merchants in Cuba to buy supplies from Spanish merchants in the Caribbean and then the French government would repay the debts by sending gold across the Pyrenees to the merchants' families in Spain. This avoided the risk that the ships carrying the gold might being captured by the British as it crossed the ocean twice -- going from France to the Caribbean to buy the goods and then going back to Spain as profit from the suppliers in the Caribbean.

The Focus Shifts to Yorktown On Aug 14 Washington and Rochambeau received a communication from Lieutenant général des armées navales de Grasse informing them that his fleet was leaving the Caribbean Sea and would arrive off the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay in late August with 28 ships-of-the-line and 3,000 land troops. He would not come as far north as New York City, and he would leave for the West Indies by October 15 so as to avoid hurricanes and the winter storm season. Since a successful attack on New York required significant French naval support it was clear that any plans for attacking New York must be abandoned, but there was an excellent chance of besieging and defeating British General Cornwallis and his 9,000 troops on the Yorktown peninsula. However, to do this the allied troops presently north of New York City would have to arrive at Yorktown before the British troops there were evacuated or received reinforcements from New York. The new objective was swiftly approved, and arrangements for feeding and transporting the troops along that route (perhaps previously planned in case this opportunity might arise) were set in motion. The major factors involved in the decision to march south were: -- Rochambeau had not received the promised number of reinforcements -- a large and well-fortified British garrison occupied New York City with strong naval support -- a small and exhausted British army led by General Cornwallis was in Virginia, far from friendly support -- a large French fleet with supplemental land forces was available to come north only as far as the Chesapeake Bay Washington and Rochambeau sent word to Admiral de Grasse of the new plan and asked Admiral de Barras to sail from Newport to the Chesapeake Bay with the French siege artillery and the reserve provisions. Washington sent his map makers south to map out the NY to VA portion of the route. The field officers of both armies were told to prepare to break camp and move on a moment's notice. Washington split the American forces -- 2,500 Continentals (backed by thousands of local militia) would remain in New York under General Heath to keep the British from advancing up the Hudson River Valley. Only a few senior officers knew that the true objective was to be Yorktown, 450 miles to the south. It was important for the British to think that the move was a prelude to a strike on New York City so that they would concentrate their forces there.

The New York portion of of the W3R campsite map

The Continentals March in New York East of the Hudson River To reduce the pressure on campsites and to accomplish several different objectives Washington split the American forces into several divisions. General Heath and some 2,500 Continentals (backed by thousands of local militia) would remain behind to deter the British in New York City from raiding the surrounding area or capturing the fortified area around West Point. Washington led the other 2,500 American troops on a rapid march 450 miles to the south. The units traveling south were: Colonel Scammel's light troops (New Hampshire) the First New York Continentals Rhode Island Continentals under Colonel Olney Colonel Lamb's regiment of artillery (New York) the New Jersey Continentals (two regiments) Colonel Hazen's regiment (Canadians) A Note about "Official" W3R Routes Aug 18 -- EASTERN DIVISION: The Jersey Line and Hazen's Regiment was ferried across the Hudson River from Dobbs Ferry to Sneeden's Landing, marching through Tappan (a town spreading across the line between NY and NJ) and on into New Jersey. Aug 19 -- WESTERN DIVISION: The remaining Continental units left their camps and assembled ("paraded" was the term used in 1781) in Dobbs Ferry, with Scammel's light infantry in the van (at the front). As they came down Ashford Ave (present-day name) and reached Broadway, Col. Scammel led the line of march to the right (away from New York City), to the surprise of the men, who were expecting a march to attack New York City. For most of these regiments this corner was the start of the march to Yorktown. They marched north along the Hudson River, crossed the Croton River at New Bridge, near the Van Cortlandt Manor House, and continued to Verplanck Point (16 miles via Routes 9 and 9a and Kings Ferry Road), where they crossed the Hudson.

The French Troops March in New York, East of the Hudson River Rochambeau led the roughly 5,000 French troops on a parallel route farther inland. At the same time (Aug 17) Rochambeau wrote to Choisy in Newport, commanding him -- in cooperation with Adm. Barrass -- to embark all able troops (about 430 in number) and the siege cannon and to sail for Jamestown VA. The only French troops remaining in Newport were 100 invalids. Meanwhile half of the French units (Division A) returned to New Castle (Mt. Kisco) -- 16 miles via Rts 100B, 100, and 133. The other half (Division B) marched by way of Thornwood, Pleasantville, and Chappaqua (along the present Saw Mill River Parkway). [See The Westchester Historian, Fall 1981.] Aug 21 -- The two French divisions rejoined and crossed the Croton River at Pines Bridge. They marched 3 miles via Route 133 to Dogwood Rd to Crow Hill Road and then 3 miles north on Route 118 and camped at Hunt's Tavern in Crompond (now called Yorktown Heights). [See The Westchester Historian, Fall 1981.] Several towns in this area were renamed Yorktown in 1788 in honor of the final major battle in Virginia. Aug 22 -- The two French divisions camped at King's Ferry (now Verplank) -- 14 miles via Rts 202, Furnace Dock Road, Washington Road north, and Kings Ferry Road) [See The Westchester Historian, Fall 1981.] British General Clinton was aware of the American / French troop movement but unaware of their strategic plan until early September. Even then he thought that superior British naval power could deny the American / French forces a victory at Yorktown. Aug 24 -- Haverstraw (4 miles south of Stony Point Park) via Route 9). One French brigade camped in front of the Treason House in West Haverstraw. It took six days (Aug 20-25) to ferry all the units across the Hudson River from Westchester County at Kings Ferry (Verplank, on the east side of the Hudson River) to Stony Point, on the west side.

The March in New York West of the Hudson River Aug 25 -- #1 - General Lincoln, with Scammel's Light Troops (NH), the First New York Continentals, Lamb's Artillery, and the sappers and miners moved from Kakiat (now New Hempstead) NY to Pompton NJ #2 - The French troops encamped in New Antrim (now Suffern) NY (11 miles via Rt 202). An historical marker on Washington Ave., south of the intersection with Lafayette Ave., notes this area as "Rochambeau's Encampment 1781-1782". Rochambeau is said to have made his headquarters at John Suffern's New Antrim Tavern. [Ref. W3R Study for NY] #3 - The slower-moving American baggage train was guarded by a detachment from Rhode Island as they moved from Kakiat (now New Hempstead) NY to New Antrim (now Suffern) NY. [Ref. W3R Study for NY] ==> Also on this day a fleet of 14 warships under British Admiral Hood arrived at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, hoping to find and to engage the French in battle. Finding no one there, they sailed on north to New York City.

Pearls along the Necklace -- Nearby Revolutionary-Era Sites