"It was mis-perceived in the American Revolution, a British generals
orders stating that he he sail up it to White Plains and defeat the
rebels, although today one could ride a bicycle to White Plains along
the "Greenway". I am hoping they put up a bike rack at both parks
someday.."
The recorded letter was to Admiral Cornwallis, I am sorry to have
called the famous Admiral a "general" (maybe "Second trombone" would
be better).
For "arsenic and old lace" one might look at this interesting
scientific analysis of King George and Admiral Cornwallis' wig.
http://www.scientifics.com/Newsletter/release11_06_04b.htm
By the way, if the French, 6000 strong hadn't marched across New
England to Westchester, NY, near White Plains, and convinced
Washington NOT to take the troops back into NYC but take a long march
to Virginia to defeat General Cornwallis, with help from the French
fleet, we might all be speaking English (or Welsh, Cornish, Gaelic,
etc.) The troops crossed the Hudson River from the Kings Highway ferry
crossing near the Kennedy House, where Alexander Hamilton was saved
from a death of sickness, near Verplank, NY. In the same house a
courts martial of General Lee from the battle in New Jersey, was
partially conducted, later suspended for a year. According to the
historian Barbara Tuchman (in "The First Salute"), General Washington
viewed the crossing from a tall wooden tower constructed nearby. The
Kennedy House, after it was burned, was buried in an athletic field
expansion of the nearby public school.
George Myers
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