Small war on Murray Hill

"Sherwood let his frequently impish imagination toy with an item in the history books, the one in which Mrs. Robert Murray beguiles British General Sir William Howe into tarrying in her home instead of pushing on with his redcoats and his Hessians and driving a wedge between the armies of General Isaac Putnam and George Washington. Thanks to his lady's enticements, Putnam was able to join Washington on the Harlem River under cover of night. According to Sherwood, Mrs. Murray's delaying tactics include a cocktail made of Holland gin and sherry called a stone wall, an excellent lunch prepared by a Creole cook, some intelligent conversation, a dinner featuring steamed clams, plenty of good brandy and, one suspects, finally her own beautiful self."--Goodreads