Washington's Headquarters During the Revolution.

The Vassall House, Cambridge, Mass. [1775-76]. On the 8th July 1775, the Committee of Safety of the Provisional Congress of Massachusetts directed by resolution "that the house of Mr. John Vassall ordered by Congress for the residence of His Excellency General Washington should be immediately put in such condition as may make it convenient for that purpose." These quarters he retained until he left Cambridge for New York, April 4th, 1776. This was later known as the Craigie house, and is now known as the homestead of the poet Longfellow.

The Mortier House, New York City [1776]. In the summer of 1776 the presence of Mrs. Washington, and the unhealthy condition of the City of New York, induced the Commander-in-Chief to change his headquarters from the Broadway to this salubrious situation. The house, one of the most comfortable colonial residences, stood on the spot since the southeast corner of Varick and Charlton streets. It was later known as Richmond Hill, and the residence of Col. Burr, who served in 1776 on Washington's staff as major. From this spot Burr proceeded to Weehawken to fight the deadly duel with Hamilton. Its last days were devoted as a theatre. It was destroyed in the early forties.

The Roger Morris House, Harlem Heights, N. Y. [1776].— Another famous colonial residence. The army headquarters were here from the time of the retreat from Long Island in September until the final evacuation of the Island of New York in October, 1776. The house was later the residence of Madame Jumel, who married Aaron Burr, and was for many years in the occupation of her descendants. Subsequently it was the residence of General Ferdinand P. Earle. In 1903 it was purchased by the City of New York.

The Miller House, White Plains, Westchester County, N. Y. [1776]. During and after the fight at Chattertons Hill, Washington had his headquarters in the house now standing, and until recently in the occupation of the Miller family, by which name it is still known.

The Ford House, Morristown, New Jersey [1777 and 1779-80].This house, during the revolution occasionally occupied as the headquarters of the army, and the residence of the General and Mrs. Washington in the severe winter of 1779-80, was the homestead of Col. Jacob Ford, who commanded a regiment in the New Jersey Militia; it remained in the possession of the family until its purchase in 1873 by Governor Randolph of New Jersey, together with Messrs. Halsey, Halstead and Lidgerwood, who have since transferred it to the State, to be forever preserved. It is familiarly known by the name of the "Old Headquarters." The Pompton Headquarters, Pompton, New Jersey [1777].— Tradition reports that Washington had his headquarters in a little frame house, on the banks of the Wynockie, which stands at the bend of a road leading from the Ryerson Furnace to the Passaic County Hotel. It is opposite to a more imposing structure known as the Ryerson House. During the revolution it belonged to Capt. Arent Schuyler. It was occupied from 1783 to 1815 by Judge M. S. Ryerson and by his descendants till 1870, when it passed into the possession of Miss Harriet Mills.

The Elmar House, Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania [1777].-Mr. Lossing, in his Field-book of the Revolution, describes this building as "standing upon the edge of a wet meadow at the head of a fine valley, and as a sort of baronial hall in size and character, where Elmar, its wealthy owner, dispensed hospitality to all who came under its roof,"

Ring's House at Chadds Ford, Delaware County, Penn. [1777]. -It was at this house, then the residence of Benjamin Ring, that Washington established the temporary headquarters from which he directed the battle of the Brandywine.

The Potts House, Valley Forge, Penn. [1777-8]. This historic building remains in excellent preservation. It was built in the middle of the last century by John Potts of Pottsdam, Penn., and left by him to his son Isaac Potts, who sold it in 1805 to Joseph Paul, who in 1826 sold it to James Jones, in whose family possession it still remains. The sufferings of the army and the anxiety of the Commander-in-Chief at this period are familiar to all, but held in most vivid memory by the inhabitants of the valley.

Col. Brinckerhoff's Fishkill Village, N. Y. [1778].—This house was a famous stopping place for travellers on the road between the Eastern and Middle States. Col. Brinckerhoff, like many others, served the army in the field while his family entertained the patriots at their homes; this in no way impairing their personal importance.

The Hopper House, Bergen County, N. J. [1780].-It was at this house, the residence of Andrew Hopper, a noted character of the revolution, and it is said a trusted spy of Washington, that the numerous letters and general orders, dated at Bergen County, were written by the Commander-in-Chief. The house is still standing, but so altered as to be no longer recognizable. After the death of Hopper the house passed into the hands of the Hegeman family, with which he was intermarried.

The Beverly Robinson House, in the Highlands, now Garrison, N. Y. [1780].-This building, familiarly called in the records of the revolution Col. Robinson's was the constant stopping place of

the General when he crossed the river from his West Point Headquarters, Its owner was implicated in the treasonable plot of Arnold, whose headquarters were in this house at the time of his defection.*

The Birdsall House, Peekskill, N. Y. [1780-81].-This old mansion is one of the first buildings erected in the village, settled in 1764. It was a favorite tavern, and repeatedly visited by the officers during the period when the allied armies under Washington and Rochambeau menaced the English positions in and about New York. It stands on the old post road. Near by are yet seen the remains of the old fort which crowned this elevated position, at the mouth of the Highland gorge.

The Tappan Headquarters, Tappan, N. Y. [1780].-A special interest attaches to this spot, because of its connection with the story of the unfortunate Andre. It was here that Washington issued the fatal warrant which condemned him to an ignominious death. It is situated near the road from Sneeden's Landing, within a few feet of the main street of the village. It was during the revolution the property of John de Windt, a native of the West Indies, from whom it passed to his granddaughter, who was married to Samuel S. Verbryck.

Joshua Hett Smith's House, Haverstraw, N. Y. [1781].-Claude Blanchard, Commissary of the French auxiliary army under Rochambeau, in his journal from 1780-83, relates that on the 21st of August, 1781, he took tea with General Washington at "Smith's House, famous from the fact that there Andre and Arnold held their meeting." The Continental army was then in motion upon

*For particulars relating to the treason of Benedict Arnold and the Robinson house, see published papers of George Clinton, Volume II, pages 724-728, footnote, and Volume VI, pages 256-264, including footnotes.-STATE HISTORIAN.

the well devised expedition which ended in the capture of Corn

wallis.

This house was owned during the revolution by Joshua Hett Smith. It is beautifully situated on the ridge of a hill which commands an extensive view of the river, and overlooks the intervening points which jut out into it in the most picturesque manner. It was off one of these, known as Grassy Point, that the Vulture lay when the guns of the Continental artillery under Livingston drove her from her anchorage. She dropped down the stream, leaving Andre on shore in conference with Arnold. His guide declined to run the risk of escorting Andre down, he passed the night with Smith, who had been his companion in the conference. And it was in the upper room of Smith's house that Andre committed the fatal imprudence of exchanging the English uniform he had up to that time worn for the clothing of a country

man.

From the Smiths the house passed into the hands of a family named Nicoll, from them to one Haussman, and later into the occupancy of Adam Lilburn. It is one of the most beautiful situations on the Hudson, commanding a landscape unrivalled in extent, variety and charm.

The Hasbrouck House, Newburgh, N. Y. [1782-83].-This old building was erected by the Hasbroucks between 1750 and 1770, the dates of the additions to the original structure being cut upon the walls. In the year 1817, by an act of Legislature, it became the property of the State of New York, and in 1850 was placed in the care of the Trustees of the Village of Newburgh, and forever set aside as an historic mansion.

Washington made his headquarters here from the spring of 1782 until the summer of the next year. Mrs. Washington passed a