In James Fenimore Cooper's narrative, the setting serves as a vivid backdrop that enhances the unfolding drama and intricate character relationships. The locales are not just passive backgrounds; they actively shape the themes and conflicts of the story. From the bustling streets of New York City to the desolate expanses of the Neutral Ground, each place plays a pivotal role in the narrative's development.

New York City

In the era depicted by Cooper, New York City is a confined landscape, limited to the bounds of Manhattan Island. This area is a pivotal stronghold for royalist forces, signifying its strategic importance during the turbulent times of the American Revolutionary War. The city is not just a geographical location but a symbol of the ideological battles that rage within its confines and extend outward to other significant locations.

Westchester County

To the northeast of Manhattan lies Westchester County, a landscape marked by its strategic importance and natural beauty. The county is connected to Manhattan by the crucial King’s Bridge, serving as a vital passageway in wartime maneuvers. The terrain is a mosaic of hills and valleys, gently sloping in the east and rising sharply towards the western Highlands. These features create a natural fortress that plays a critical role in the military strategies of the time.

Neutral Ground

The Neutral Ground is a compelling area, marked by its lack of allegiance to either the British or Revolutionary forces. This strip of land, east of the Highlands, presents a stark image of neglect and desolation due to the war's upheaval. Fields lay fallow, fences crumble, and roads deteriorate, providing an eerie setting for the exchanges between armies. Sites like White Plains, the heights above Sing Sing, and Fishkill village become landmarks of military and personal drama. It is here, in a secluded cabin, that Frances Wharton encounters Harper and faces Harvey Birch, setting the stage for crucial narrative developments.

The Locusts

The Locusts, the Wharton family residence, stands as a poignant emblem of both grandeur and ruin within the Neutral Ground. The estate, nestled in a valley with vistas of Long Island Sound, is a bastion of the family's past affluence. The building itself, with its stone construction, pillared piazza, and elaborate interior, contrasts sharply with the neighboring simplicity of Harvey Birch’s cottage. The estate is a battlefield backdrop, witnessing Dunwoodie's initial skirmish with the British. It also reflects the changing seasons vividly, with the landscape's transformation marking the passage of time and the ongoing conflict.

Four Corners

An abandoned village known as Four Corners becomes a temporary refuge for Dunwoodie’s troops post-skirmish, encapsulating the transient nature of wartime habitation. This makeshift encampment, centered around a crossroads and a few small buildings, gains particular significance through a building humorously dubbed a "hotel" by the troops. This structure shelters camp follower Elizabeth Flanagan, who plays a pivotal role in supporting the soldiers. Ultimately, Four Corners becomes a sanctuary for the displaced Whartons following the destruction of their home, The Locusts.

Niagara River

In a narrative leap spanning three decades beyond the main story, the banks of the Niagara River become the setting for a climactic revelation. Here, amidst the strategic and contested landscape connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, another generation of Americans encounters British forces on the Chippewa plains. It is against this backdrop that the descendants of the original characters finally unravel the mystery of the spy’s true allegiance, concluding a saga of hidden motives and enduring enmity.

These locations are more than mere backdrops; they are integral to the lived experiences of the characters and the progression of the narrative. Each place, from the bustling to the desolate, contributes uniquely to the rich tapestry of Cooper's story, embodying the tensions and transformations of an era marked by revolutionary change.