lord howe of england took possession of new york harbor and the proximity of schuyler mansion drew many of his officers who traveled over a road known today as the belleville turnpike. it had originally been laid in 1759 with cedar logs from the nearby swamps. in september 1777, henry clinton, head of the british expeditionary forces in america, selected schuyler mansion for his headquarters during one of his more important raiding operations, including those along second river.