commander-in-chief orders the cessation of hostilities between the United States of America and the King of Great Britain to be publicly read to-morrow at 12 o'clock at the new building, and the proclamation which will be communicated herewith to be read to-morrow evening at the head of every regiment and corps of the army. After which the chaplains with the several brigades will render thanks to Almighty God for all His mercies, particularly for His overruling the wrath of men to His own glory, and causing the rage of war to cease among the nations. After noble admonitions addressed to the reason and consciences of the men who had followed him so long, the General proclaimed a day of jubilee and ordered for every man an extra ration of grog. The last act was an illumination on a gigantic scale, the watch- fires on prominent hills blazing from huge stacks of timber to announce the welcome tidings of peace to a country that had trembled so long at the tramp of armies and the roar of cannon. Newburgh is a State repository for relics pertaining to the Revolution, the war of 18 12, and other national conflicts. The house that was so long used as head^ Digitized by Microsoft® The Fisher's Reach 415 quarters by Washington is the centre of a little park that is open at all times to the public. The old Senate House at Kingston is similarly preserved, and it is becoming yearly more and more a matter of local pride in the various river towns to guard the reminders of an historic past. Not only is the feeling towards the preservation of old buildings increasing, but thoughtful people are alive to the necessity for vigorous action to protect prominent natural landmarks. To stop the destruc- tion being wrought by the dynamite of the contractor and save the Palisades frora ultimate exodus through the jaws of the stone-crusher, the Interstate Park Com- mission was formed. After a great deal of hard work and no little application of faith and patience, an ap- propriation of four hundred thousand dollars was secured from the State of New York and fifty thousand from the State of New Jersey, and the result was the establishment of the Palisades Park, which is in charge of the Commission. Back of the Commission is the American Scenic and Historic Preservation So- ciety, organised first as a local New York association, but now national in its scope. Either directly, or through auxiliary societies, it has become the custodian of public parks founded to preserve historic sites. Thirty-three acres at Stony Point, covering the field of Wayne's gallant exploit, were purchased by New York State and delivered to the guardianship of the Society for improvement and preservation. Digitized by Microsoft® Chapter XXV Fishkill to Poughkeepsie FROM Brinkerhoff's historical sketch of Fishkill we learn that here was made the first pur- chase of land in Dutchess County. The buyers were Francis Rombout and Gulian VerPlanck, and the date of the transfer of their property from the Wappinger Indians was August, 1683. "Gulian Ver- Planck died before the English patent was granted by Governor Dongan ; Stephanus Van Cortlandt was then joined in it with Rombout, and Jacobus Kipp sub- stituted as the representative of the children of Gulian VerPlanck." The tract contained seventy-six thou- sand acres in Fishkill and nine thousand more within the limits of the present town of Poughkeepsie. The position of Fishkill in relation to Newburgh and the ferry brought it into prominence during the War for Independence. Hither flocked many refugees from New York and Long Island, and the place became naturally a repository for military stores. Here, at the VerPlanck house. Baron Steuben had his head- quarters; the Legislature held its sessions here before going to Kingston. Here Lafayette lay ill of a fever, 416 Digitized by Microsoft® Fishkill to Poughkeepsie 417 here Enoch Crosby was supposed to have been con- fined in the church, here Washington came, making the old BrinkerhofE house his resting-place. Back of Fishkill rises a ridge of lofty hills, still cov- ered with forests in many places, the highest point recently made accessible by the construction of an "incline" railway that is nearly perpendicular. From the summit the view is unsurpassed in extent and variety by any in New York State. From Beacon Hill the huge watch-fires, lighted to give warning of the approach of the enemy or to celebrate the advent of peace, could be seen from the peaks of the Catskills, the rugged tops of the Highlands, the hills of West- chester, or the far-away elevations of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. On a level plateau at the base of the hills the en- campment of the American army was at one time situated; and fortified