250 Years Ago This Week in Kingsbridge

The Revolutionary War was raging around Kingsbridge in October, 1776.  The British army landed a large force at Throgg’s Neck, cutting off supplies to the Continental Army and threatening to attack it from the rear.  This compelled most of the Continental Army to leave Manhattan by crossing over the King’s Bridge to our neighborhood.  From here they began a long retreat to White Plains.

October 12th – This is the day that the British landed at Throgg’s Neck.  Philip van Cortlandt recalled that day: “I arrived at the head-quarters of General Washington, near Kingsbridge, at the house of my kinsman, Colonel James van Cortlandt.”  This refers to the Van Cortlandt House in modern day Van Cortlandt Park as Washington’s headquarters on that fateful day.

October 13th – Major General William Heath, who was quartered at the other Van Cortlandt house (at W. 238th Street and Waldo Ave) wrote that “The General Officers of the army were this day in council” at his quarters.  This means that Washington and his generals met in this part of our neighborhood to discuss military strategy.  This was a crucial moment for the army, so it is rather remarkable that it happened here, just a stone’s throw from An Beal Bocht cafe!  This is a detail that has escaped the notice of nearly every local historian in the past because General Heath’s diaries have only recently been published online.

October 14th –  Major General Heath wrote that “Washington, accompanied by the Generals of the Army . . . visited all the posts, beyond Kingsbridge.”

On October 18th, the Battle of Pelham or Pell’s Point took place in what is now Pelham Bay Park near the Split Rock.  We hope to see you at the reenactment of this engagement this weekend.

You can get more details about this moment in history in Gerry Bogacz’s newly published article on our website.