USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 36
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"On the 21st, Colonel Rogers, a celebrated partisan officer in the French war, had accepted a command in the English service, and lay at Mamaroneck. An attack upon him was planned by Lord Sterling, and executed by a force under the command of Col. Haslet of the Delaware regiment. Rogers was completely surprised ; seventy or eighty of his men were killed or made pris- oners, and a considerable quantity of arms, ammunition and clothing taken by the Americans. On the 23d of October, a spirited skirmish took place be- tween Hand's Pennsylvania riflemen and a detachment of Hessian chasseurs, about 240 strong, in which the Hessians were routed. These harassing en- counters of the Americans (attended invariably with success) tended to delay the advance of the British and to make them cautious, while it cheered the desponding courage of the American soldiers, and above all, gave General Washington time to remove his stores and entrench himself where no army dare assail him.
" On the morning of the 28th of October, the British army marched from their camp in two columns-the right commanded by General Clinton, the left by De Heister, and came in sight of the American forces about 10 o'clock.
a " General George Clinton, in a postscript to a friend, writing from Washing- ton's entrenchment on the night of the 20th October, says: ' Love to Mrs. Clin- ton-tell her I write from an entrenchment. The British forces are in sight, and we shall probably have battle to-morrow-tell her to entertain no fears for my safety.'"-Mr. Tompkins's Address.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
On the 27th of October, two militia regiments had been sent over to throw up entrenchments on Chatterton hill, and on the morning of the 28th, General Washington ordered Col. Haslet to take command of the hill, having under his command his own (the Delaware) Regiinent, the Militia, and part of the Maryland troops. General McDougal soon followed him and took the com- mand. Col. Haslet says the enemy in the first place moved towards the for- tifications in the village-they then halted-the general officers had a council of war on horseback in the wheat-fields, and the result was that their forces inclined towards the Bronx. Fifteen or twenty pieces of artillery were placed upon the high ground opposite the hill, and commenced a furious cannonade upon MeDougal's forces, under cover of which fire the British built a bridge over the Bronx and prepared to eress.
" Gen. McDougal placed two field picces upon a ledge of table-rock, which did great execution among the British artificers and soldiers. So soon as the bridge would admit their crossing, they rushed forward and attempted to take the two pieces by a charge up the hill-these two cannon were in charge of the late Alexander Hamilton, (then a captain of artillery,) and never did offi- cers or men do better execution. When upon the spot in after years, describ- ing it to a youthful friend, he was heard to say, ' For three successive dis- charges the advancing column of British troops was swept from hill-top to river.' The British finding this table rock inaccessible, inclined to the left down the river, and joined the troops under General Rahl, which had crossed about a quarter of a mile below.
" They now attacked McDougal and attempted to turn his right flank. He retreated, but contested the ground all the way up to the summit of the hill, making a stand at every favorable point. At length the British cavalry gained the crest of the hill, and charging, cut to pieces the militia on McDougal's right. The last stand was made by the Americans behind a fence at the top of the hill, where the Delaware regiment and part of McDougal's brigade, twice repulsed the British Light Infantry and Cavalry. At length compelled to retreat, it was done in good order over the bridge at the foot of the hill under cover of some regiments detached by Washington from his main army. The militia and a few of the regulars were dispersed among the hills of Greenburgh, but soon returned to Head Quarters. The British forces engaged in that at- tack were the flower of the army, consisting of the second brigade of British, the 28th, 5th and 49th regiments, Rahl's battalion, the Hessian Grenadiers under Dunop, and a party of Light Dragoons, all commanded by General Leslie.
" That General Washington did make a successful stand at this place has ever excited the wonder of military men. His troops were greatly inferior in numbers and discipline. and composed in part of militia and raw recruits. After the battle the enemy for several days attempted to gain Washington's rear, tried to alarm him and indnce him to retreat or fight by threatening his flanks. At several times they formed a semi-circle about him. On the night
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. of the 31st of October, Washington evacuated his camp at White Plainsa and established his new position in the hills of Northcastle, about one mile in the rear of his former encampment, when the British appear to have relinquished all further offensive operations. At the advance of the British army to White Plains the Whig families were seen hurrying unprotected before them with thin clothing and a scanty supply of provisions to seek shelter for the coming winter, they knew not where. Desolation and famine marked that fair region over which the two armies passed. The English army finding all attempts to circumvent General Washington hopeless, broke up their camp at White Plains on the 5th of November and retired to Dobb's Ferry, and from thence to King's Bridge, where they encamped on the 13th of that month."
" Thus ended in Westchester for the year '76 the movements of the British army ; but soon the inhabitants of the North were overrun by loyalists from Morrisania, and for a long time without protection were exposed to every danger and suffering. In short, till the peace of 1782, Westchester was the battle-ground of the disaffected, and the prey of both friend and foe. Scenes of cruelty and bloodshed unknown in civilized warfare, marked their partizan en- gagements, and in the defence of their homes her valiant sons exhibited frequent instances of personal bravery unexcelled in ancient or modern times. Among the most daring were the guides-such men as Abraham Dyckman, Cornelius Oakley and John Odell. In the darkness of night they have often surprised and carried off captains, officers and men, under the guns of the British forts at Morrisania, or in small parties amused themselves by beating up De Lan- cey's quarters. Frequent alarmis had made them watchful of surprise and success rendered them reckless of danger, till they became the chosen leaders of each dangerous enterprise against the enemy."
The following additional particulars respecting the engage- ment on Chatterton's hill are contained in General Heath's Memoirs.
27th of October, "In the forenoon, a heavy cannonade was heard towards Fort Washington. Thirteen Hessians and two or three British soldiers were sent in on this day. From the American camp to the west, south-west, there appeared to be a very commanding height, worthy of attention. The Com- mander-in-Chief ordered the general officers who were off duty, to attend him to reconnoitre this ground, on this morning. When arrived at the ground, although very commanding, it did not appear so much so, as other grounds to
a At the east end of the village is still to be seen the remains of Washington's encampment. Of this nothing is left but a small portion of the embankment that rains partly across the street, on the surface of which rests a mutilated howitzer. This relic of the past was disinterred near the spot it occupies.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
the north, and almost parallel with the left of the army, as it was then formed. " Yonder," says Major Gen. Lee, pointing to the grounds just mentioned, "is the ground we ought to occupy." " Let us then go and view it," replied the Commander-in-Chief. When on the way, a light horseman came up on full gallop, his horse almost out of breath, and addressed Gen. Washington -- " The British are in the camp, sir." The General observed, " Gentlemen, we have now other business than reconnoitring," putting his horse in full gallop for the camp, and followed by the other officers. When arrived at head-quarters, the Adjutant-General, (Read,) who had remained at camp, informed the Commander-in-Chief, that the guards had been all beat in, and the whole American army were now at their respective posts, in order of battle. The Commander-in-Chief turned round to the officers, and only said, " Gentlemen, you will repair to your respective posts, and do the best you can." " Our general," (Heath,) " on arriving at his own division, found them all in the lines ; and, from the height of his post, found that the first attack was directed against the Americans on Chatterton's hill. The little river Bronx, which ran between the American right and this hill, after running round its north side, turned and ran down on the east and south-east. The British advanced in two columns. At this instant, the cannonade was brisk on both sides ; directed by the British across the hollow and Bronx, against the Americans on the hill, and by them returned. Almost at the same instant, the right column, composed of British troops, preceded by about twenty light horse in full gallop, and brandishing their swords, appeared on the road leading to the court-house, and now directly in the front of our General's division. The light-horse leaped the fence of a wheat field, at the foot of the hill, on which Col. Malcolm's regiment was posted, of which the light-horse were not aware until a shot from Lieut. Fenno's field-piece gave them notice by striking in the midst of them, and a horseman pitching from his horse. They then wheeled short about, galloped out of the field as fast as they came in, rode behind a little hill on the road, and faced about ; the tops of their caps only being visible to our General, where he stood. The column came no further up the road, but wheeled to the left by platoons, as they came up; and, passing through a bar, or gateway, directed their head towards the troops on Chatterton's hill, now engaged. When the head of the column had got nearly across the lot, their front got out of sight ; nor could the extent of their rear be now discovered. The sun shone bright, their arms glittered, and perhaps troops never were shown to more advantage, than these now appeared. The whole now halted ; and for a few minutes, the men all sat down in the same order in which they stood, no one appearing to move out of his place. The cannonade continued brisk across the Bronx. A part of the left column, composed of British and Hessians, forded the river, and marched along under the cover of the hill, until they had gained sufficient ground to the left of the Americans ; when, by facing to the left, their column became a line, parrallel
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with the Americans. When they briskly ascended the hill,& the first column resumed a quick march. As the troops, which were advancing to the attack, ascended the hill, the cannonade on the side of the British ceased ; as their own men became exposed to their fire, if continued. The fire of small arms was now very heavy, and without any distinction of sounds. This led some American officers, who were looking on, to observe that the British were worsted, as their cannon had ceased firing ; but a few minutes evinced that the Americans were giving way. They moved off the hill in a great body, neither running, nor observing the best order. The British ascended the hill very slowly, and when arrived at its summit, formed and dressed their line, without the least attempt to pursue the Americans. The loss on the side of the Americans was inconsiderable. That of the British was not then known. The British army having got possession of this hill, it gave them a vast ad- vantage of the American lines, almost down to the centre."b
Botta, in his history of the American Revolution, says : "The loss of men in this action was great on the one part as well as on the other."c
Among the principal actors in this scene, upon the American side, may be enumerated, Generals Washington, Clinton, Mc- Dougal, Lee, Heath, Sterling, and Read, Colonels Haslet, Small- wood, Malcolm and Glover ; Majors Hand, Lee and Lieut. Fenno ; and the gallant Hamilton, captain of artillery, &c., &c. On the British side, Brigadier Generals Leslie, Knyphausen, Rahl, De Heister, and Matthews ; Lord Percy, Count Dunop, Colonel Ralle, Colonel Ritzema, and Major Rogers, &c., &c.
The following letter of General George Clinton, dated Camp, at the old Place near White Plains, Nov. 2d, 1776, to a friend, is copied from the journal of the Provincial Congress :
MY DEAR SIR :- Your favours of the 30th and 31st ultimo, were left at my tent a few minutes since. Since my last to you, dated the day before
a While the British were thus advancing up the hill, a shot struck one of the standard bearers dead. Warren de Lancey, (then a boy 15 years of age,) instantly seized the colors, and rushing forward, was one of the first to gain the summit, where he planted thein in the ground. For this act of bravery he afterwards re- ceived a cornet's commission from General Howe .- Author.
b Heath's Mem. 76.
e The remains of those slain in the conflict, were interred in a hollow on the south-west side of Chatterton hill, near a hickory tree.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
yesterday, the centre and right wing of our army, having possessed them- selves of the heights in their rear, north-cast of the road leading to Young's ; yesterday morning evacuated that part of our lines which passed through the town, and south-east of N-, and fell back on those heights ; firing all the barns, hay and corn stacks in front. This induced the enemy to believe we had again retreated, and determined to take the advantage of our apparent flight, their army instantly moved forward into the part of our lines which were evacuated. This brought on a pretty brisk cannonade, though at too great a distance to do much execution. I lost one man, and had two wounded. I have heard of no other injury done us. We are by the late movements now far advanced-in front of course most exposed. The enemy retired to their former encampment in the evening, leaving strong advanced pickets, and working parties who are busily employed in erecting banks on the heights in and near the town. Deserters, (especially from the Queen's light dragoons,) come daily over to us ; and now and then our Rangers send in a straggling prisoner. Captain van Wick of my brigade, who, at his earnest desire, was appointed to a company of rangers, was the day before yesterday unfortu- nately killed. He went out in the morning with about 30 mnen, and fell in with about 100 of the enemy in a house not far distant from their lines-charged them with spirit, gave them a brisk fire, but unfortunately, when loading his piece the second time, was shot in the head, and fell dead. His lieutenant shot down the man who killed his captain. The enemy fled ; our party brought off their captain, and yesterday evening I had him interred with the honors of war. He was a good man, and a valiant officer. Pray communi- cate this sad news to his widow, (to whom I would write, had I leisure,) in a manner that will least affect her.
I know of no other news worth communicating you. Though in the camp, I am not acquainted with the disposition of our army. Some brigades to the north-east of us, in my humble opinion, are where they can do no good; perhaps I am mistaken : I am not well acquainted with the country. I must beg an answer to my letter wherein I desired you to ask a favor of the Con- vention :
And am, with the utmost esteem,
Yours affectionately, GEORGE CLINTON.
P. S. I need not ask you to forward the enclosed. I know you will do it. Though I determined never to meddle with the disposition of officers, I cannot help recommending Colonel Duboys and his officers, who served in our army to the northward last year, to the Convention. Should they quit the army by any neglect, it will be a public loss. They are brave men and good officers, at least such of them as have joined our brigade."a
& Journal of N Y. Prov. Congress, vol ii. 317.
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The head-quarters of Washington, while stationed here, were at a small farm house to the north of the village, situated amid a deep solitude of woods, surrounded by hills and wild romantic scenery. The following account of a visit paid to this spot, is taken from a newspaper printed at New York in 1845.
" When we entered the little room of Mr. Miller'sa farm house, where that great and good man had resided, and where he resolved to try the hazard of a battle with a flushed and successful foe, we could not repress the enthusiasm, which the place and the moment and the memory inspired. We looked around with eagerness at each portion of the room on which his eye must have rested, we gazed through the small window panes through which he must have so often and so anxiously looked towards the enemy, and at the old- fashioned buffets where his table service was deposited for his accommodation. But little change has taken place in the building, and its amiable and patriotic inmates have shown their respect for the hero by placing on the walls his portrait and several representations of his last moments at Mount Vernon."
In the north-east angle of this town lies Willett's pond, a large and beautiful sheet of water, which falls into the Mamaroneck river. Its banks on the north-west side are very steep and the views from the summits of the surrounding hills are extremely fine. At the outlet of the pond is situated the grist mill and clothier works of Mr. Henry Willett.
The general surface of White Plains, "is somewhat hilly, but mostly arable ; soil, principally loam, well adapted to grass, and much of it highly cultivated."b The higher lands abound with good timber, which consists chiefly of oak, chestnut and hickory. There is perhaps no town in the county better watered by rivers, brooks, and springs.
a Mr. Elijah Miller (who is since deceased) was a soldier of the Revolution.
b Disturnell's Gazetteer, N. Y.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
YORKTOWN.
YORKTOWN is situated sixteen miles north of the village of White Plains, distant forty-two miles from New York, and one hundred and seventeen from Albany, "bounded north by Put- nam county, east by Somers and New Castle, south by New Castle, and west by Cortlandt. Its length, north and south, ten miles, and it is nearly four miles wide.
Prior to 1788, Yorktown and Somers constituted the old town- ship of Hanover, within Cortlandt's manor.a A portion of the former early acquired the name of Gertrude's borough, in honor of Gertrude Beeckman, wife of Colonel Henry Beeckman, and one of the daughters and devisees of Stephanus van Cortlandt.
The Mohegan term Appamaghpogh appears to have been ap- plied to the whole Indian territory within the manor, west of Cortlandtown. The eastern section of Yorktown still bears the name of Amawalk, probably an abbreviation and corruption of the former term, thus Appamaghpogh, Amaghpogh, or Ama- walk. The lands of Appamaghpogh were originally granted to Stephamus van Cortlandt in 1683, by the Indian sachems Pewe- mind, Oskewans, and others, as mentioned in our description of Somers, &c.
The principal aboriginal settlement in this part of Appam- aghpogh occupied the summit of Indian hill, a vast height, which rises to an elevation of nearly six hundred feet above the northern margin of Lake Magrigaries, (Hollow Lake) situated in Jefferson valley. On the southern side of the hill lies the Indian burying-ground. The remains of several Indians have been lately disinterred near the residence of Dr. Fountain, whose property borders on the lake. Indian hill is also memorable as the last spot inhabited by a band of aborigines in Westchester
a The present township was erected 7th March, 1788. Rev. Statutes, 486. VOL. II. 48
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HISTORY OF THE
county. On the eastern border of the town is situated the Indian cemetery of Amawalk.
Upon the partition of the manor of Cortlandt among the heirs of Stephanus van Cortlandt in the year 1734, the following al- lotments were made in this town.
North lot No. 2, Andrew Miller; ditto No. 3, Gertrude Beeck- man ; ditto No. 4, Cornelia Schuyler and her husband, Col. John Schuyler. This gentleman was the father of the illustrious Gen. Philip Schuyler. Middle lot No. 2 and 3, Gertrude Verplanck ; ditto No. 4, Elizabeth Skinner ; south lot No. 1, bordering the Cro- ton river, Jolin Watts; ditto Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, Philip Verplank ; ditto No. 8, Gertrude Beeckman ; ditto No. 9, Susannah Warren. Subsequently the devisees and their heirs made other divisions,
A. D. 1784, Andrew Miller, sold to John Strang a farm in west range of north lot No. 2, consisting of 200 acres which he purchased of John Watts.
Gertrude Beeckman bequeathed lot No. 8, south of the Croton to her two nephews Philip and William Ricketts van Cortlandt, as tenants in common in fee tail.
Stephen van Cortlandt with his wife Catalina Staats, in 1791 gave a release to Elvan Purdy, with the fee of a certain lot No. 3, heretofore called Gertrude's borough, being by division amongst the heirs of Stephen van Cortlandt, deceased, allotted to Gertrude, one of his daughters, late wife of Henry Beeckman, containing 156 acres.
The following receipts for rent prove the Purdys to have been tenants in common long prior to the above release. They also establish the early names of the town.
" Rec'd, Hanover, May ye 10th, 1760, by ye hand of Abraham Purdy, three pound in part for his farm rent and for the use of Col. Henry Beeckman, Esq., per me.
£300
"JOHN BRYAN."
" Received at Crompond, 16th Nov'r, 1786, per Mr. Elvan Purdy, one pound 13s. in part of rent.
"STEPHEN VAN CORTLANDT."
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
" Received at Yorktown, Nov. 7th, 1789, of Mr. Elvan Purdy, two pounds 19s. 9d. in full of rent due.
" STEPHEN VAN CORTLANDT."
Crompond, the principal village in this township, is situated on the high road leading from Somers to Peekskill ; it contains a Presbyterian and a Congregational church, a post office, a store, and several dwellings. The name is undoubtedly derived from the large pond that lies north-west of the village, which, from its peculiar shape, is sometimes called the crooked pond, crom de- noting in the Dutch language, crooked. This beautiful sheet of water covers an area of 200 acres.
Presbyterian Church, Crompond.
The Presbyterian Church is handsomely located on the high- est ground of the village, commanding a fine view of the sur- rounding country ; it was built in 1799, on the site of an older edifice erected cir. 1738, and destroyed by fire in July, 1779. At the time of its destruction the old church appears to have been used as a store house by the Continental troops; for, during the year 1839, a select committee appointed by Congress to investi- gate Revolutionary claims, reported "That Congress pay the Yorktown congregation the sum of three thousand five hun- dred dollars out of the first unappropriated funds, the govern- ment having occupied the church and parsonage as barracks and
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HISTORY OF THE
store houses during the Revolutionary war." This appropria- tion, however, was never made by Congress.
The present edificeª is constructed of wood, presenting in front a lofty colonnade, above which rises a neat tower, finished with a rich cornice and pinnacles, in which is a large bell weigh- ing over 600lbs., inscribed as follows : " Cast by J. H. Thomp- sou, New York, 1833."
The Presbyterian church in this town, appears to have been first organized under the ministry of the Rev. Samuel Sackett, about 1740. Upon the 2nd of January, 1739, we find a deed for three acres of land given by Joseph Lane, Henry Beeckman and Gertrude his wife, unto John Hyatt, John Haight and David Travis, trustees for the first Presbyterian church, on which land the meeting house was erected (said three acres being part of two hundred and twenty acres leased to Joseph Lane for three lives, 25th March, 1737, ) dated 2nd of January, 1739, according to the act of 1784 and the act of 1801."b
On the 25th of May, 1781, it was incorporated under the name and title of the "First Presbyterian Society, upon the plan of the Church of Scotland." Aaron Furman, Gilbert Travis, Ebe- nezer White, Elijah Lee, Henry Strang and Gabriel Carman, trustees, elected 3d of May, 1784. A re-incorporation of the same occurs on the 4th of March, 1806.c
LIST OF PASTORS AND SUPPLIES.
Instal or call.
Pastors. Vacated by
Cir. 1740,
Rev. Samuel Sackett,
death.
1785,
Rev. Silas Constant, resignation.
1S07,
Rev. Alexander Thompson, ditto.
1814,
Rev. Asael Bronson,
ditto.
Rev. Richard Wyncup, ditto.
Rev. Thomas G. Thompson, ditto.
& Decemun the celebrated Indian preacher once addressed a crowded audience from the pulpit of this church.
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