History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 105

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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The American army periodically made what Heath ealled "grand " forages in quest of forage and pro- visions, and the enemy returned the compliment in kind, taking everything in the food line, including live cattle, bedding, etc., that they could lay hands 01. There was probably not a house that was not visited, nor a patriot who was not threatened. Cattle were concealed-in one instance a cow was driven nightly into the cellar-valuables were buried. Neither

1 Irving's Life of Wash., vol. ii., pp. 424 and 433. Healli's Memoirs.

" Irving's Life of Wash., vol. ii., p. 435.

3 Journal of Clande Blanchard, pp. 112 und 113.

4 Heath's Memoirs.

& Penbody's Life of Israel Pninam, Sparks' Amer. Biography.

6 Heath's Memoirs.

i See extract from Thacher's Military Journal below.

" Number of Refugees from Cortlandt Manor In 1782, 864.

property nor life were safe. Some found it necessary to keep a horse always saddled, that they might have ready a means of escape. Against the cowboys the neighbors would gather for mutual protection with the most convenient weapon, whether it were a pitch- fork or a gun.

During the winter of 1776-1777 six hundred Con- neeticut troops were engaged, with Zephaniah Platt, in disarming the Tories of Cortlandt Manor.9 At the parsonage of the Presbyterian Church the Committee of Safety (probably a local body) met for the trial of disaffected persons.10

January, 1777, Heath passed through here on his way to the South for the purpose of harassing the British outposts, and penetrated as far south as Spuy- ten Duyval Creek.

In August, 1777, a party of militia three in number, headed by Captain Henry Strang, among them Elijah Lee, afterwards Judge Lee, captured Edmund Palmer, a Lieutenant in the Tory Legion of De Lancey, while he was on a visit to his wife who lived in this section, and handed him over to General Putnam, who tried him as a spy. He was found guilty and executed on Gallows Hill, north of Peekskill, August 7, 1777.

During the Revolution, the parsonage of the Pres- byterian Church, C'rompond, was used as a place of meeting for the Committee of Safety, and as a place of trial for disaffected persons. Bolton says it was ealled by Colonel Robertson the d-d committee house.11 Here, too, commissions were distributed by a committee of the Provincial Congress to the officers of the militia. In the month of Juue, 1779, the par- sonage of the church and a storehouse attached were taken possession of and occupied by a regiment of American militia, under command of Colonel Samuel Drake, as a barrack> and storehouse. Captain Henry Strang commanded the troops in the parsonage, and was at that time acting Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment.

Clinton was now in possession of Verplanek's Point.12 A detachment of about one hundred and thirty men, under the command of Colonel Abercrombie, was sent to what is now Yorktown (then Manor of Cort- landt) under the guidance of Caleb. Morgan, a Tory of Yorktown, and others, to attack the militia at Crompond. They succeeded in burning the par- sonage and storehouse, and then retired without in- juring any other buildings. The militia then took possession of the meeting-house, and used it as their barracks.

On the morning of the 24th of June following, two squadrons of Tarleton's and Simcoe's British Light Horse, about two hundred in number, who had prob- ably come from White Plains by way of Pine's Bridge,

P Bolton's History of The County of Westchester, vol. ii., p. 382 (oldl edition).

10 Report No. 492 House of Representatives, Thirty-first Congress, First Session. -- Aff, of Thomas SIrang.

11 Bolton, vol. ii., p. 382 (old edition).

12 Sve Chapter on Cortlandt.

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YORKTOWN.

fell suddenly upon the militia at Crompond, as they werc at breakfast in the houses of the village, and killed and captured about thirty of them. The prisoners werc incarcerated in the New York Sugar House, a prison of ill-repute to the patriots. The rest of the militia sought safety in flight. Among them was Bob Lent, who fled down King Street with two British horsemen in hot pursuit. Lent ran into the woods and his pursuers, after following him some distance, gave up the chase. He then turned and fired upon the party. His shot took effect, as the horsemen were afterwards noticed helping along one of their number who was covered with blood. It is said that the wounded soldier died at Pine's Bridge. Major Joseph Strang fled up what is now called ('rompond Street to the descent of the hill this side of the house of A. R. Strang, when, being hard pressed, he threw himself from his horse and escaped to a swamp thicket. His horse was cap- tured. He was accompanied by Mrs. De Lancey, who was overtaken and brutally treated, the soldiers at- tempting to take the silver buckles from her shoes. Upon learning her name they immediately desisted.1

As the British soldiers were returning from this foray, they met at the distance of about a quarter of a mile from the church a colored boy belonging to Abraham Purdy, and commonly called "Broad Toes" from his possession of the unusual number of six on each foot, who was driving a herd of thirteen cows. The troopers charged on the lad, swearing they would cut him to pieces ; but he departed with such alacrity as to save them the trouble. The cows were driven to the British camp and doubtless not long afterwards converted into British muscle.2

On the raid from Verplanck's the British soldiers entered the house of Joseph Fowler, situated where the honse now stands, on the farm of his great-grand- son, George B. Fowler, about a quarter of a mile west of Mohansic Lake. Jesse Fowler, son of Joseph, was sitting at the loom in the cellar under which money was buried. The soldiers thrust their bayonets through the cider-barrels and filled their canteens with cider, and stripped the house of food and the beds of bedding.

"On the morning of the 25th, the enemy's light horse and about one thousand infantry were at Pine's Bridge. Our General [Heath] ordered two hundred light infantry, under command of Lieutenant-Colo- nel Grovenor, to march to Robinson's stores near Marpoach [Mahopac] Pond to cover that quarter."2

July, 1779, while Sir Henry Clinton was engaged in an attempt on the defenses of the Highlands, General Tryon was sent to Connecticut to scourge the people into submission. He began his work at New Haven and burned both Fairfield and Norwalk. " July 10th, 6 P. M., Heath received orders from Gen- eral Washington to march with two Connecticut

brigades, by way of Crompond, toward Bedford." A storm detained them until the 12th, when this little army marched to Amawalk, which they reached about sunset. The enemy were reported as being at Pinc's Bridge. Heath moved from point to point near the Connecticut line, apparently checking Tryon. On the 17th he was ordered back to take command in a proposed attack on Verplanck's Point, and returned by a forced march, reaching there on the 18th.3

During September and October, 1779, by Heath's orders, General Howc, with Glover's and Nixon's brigades, were stationed near Pine's Bridge and vicin- ity to protect the inhabitants from raids. +

September, 1780, Arnold proved recrcant to his trust and deserted to the enemy.

About eight or nine o'clock at night, on Friday, September 22, 1780, Major John Andre, disguised in civilian's clothes, and Joshua Hett Smith were riding along the Crompond road, after the interview with Arnold, when they were stopped near Crompond by Captain Boyd of Sheldon's Regiment of Light Dragoons, who, it is said, although shown their pass from Arnold, suspected them, and recommended them to stop at the tavern of Andreas Miller in such significant tones, that they did not dare to refuse. In this tavern, tradition says, they passed a very restless night, and having been permitted to continue their journey started away just before dawn. They passed through Crompond, and, as elsewhere narrated, took breakfast about a mile south of Yorktown station. Smith's story of his trip with Andre does not accord with the statement given above. He said that five or six miles below Verplanck's Point they met a patrol, and were challenged by Captain Bull. Ly his advice they returned several miles to a tavern kept by a man named McKoy. The former account agrees more generally with tradition, however, and judged in the light of their subsequent movements, seems the morc probable.

The tavern has been torn down. It stood near the spot upon which is located a blacksmith shop at present, about two miles west of Crompond on the main road to Peekskill.

About a mile south of the village of Yorktown, on the road to Pine's Bridge, is located a little old house, the eaves of which, on the northern side, are only five or six fect above the ground. At this place, on the morning of the 23d of September, 1780, Major John Andre, in company with Joshna Hett Smith, while on his way to the British lines, stopped to take breakfast. The house was then occupied by Isaae Underhill and Sarah, his wife, and their family. After breakfast Smith left his companion, directing him to take the road to White Plains, while he him- self rode northward to Fishkill, where his family

1 Anecdotes of the Revolution, collected by the late Alvan Purdy.

2 Heath's Mem., p. 20G.

3 Heath's Memoirs, pp. 209, 210.

+ Heath's Memoirs.

448

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

were staying, thus another link was forged iu the chain of eireumstanees which led Andre to his doom, as, if this separation had not taken place, the know- ledge of the country possessed by Smith, and the pass from Arnold would have almost certainly brought them safe into the British eamp. Andre, however, trusting to his own judgment, took the road through Sing Sing to the river, and the famous episode of his capture occurred, in consequence, about eleven o'elock the same morning at Tarrytown, as elsewhere stated in the history of Greenburgh.

" Oct. 21st, 1780 .- Intelligence was received that the enemy was meditating an exeursion as far as Crompond and its vieinity to sweep off the eattle. [Heath] immediately ordered Col. Hazen with a de- tachment of 500 men to move to Pine's Bridge, and Lieut .- Col. Jameson with the 2nd Light Dragoons to move from Bedford towards Col. Hazen. The detaeh-

he had spent in the neighboring wood, west of his house, on horseback. Thinking that the attempt had been given up, he continued his precautions ou the night of November 19, 1780, only at the urgent re- quest of his wife. That evening the Cowboys came, but failed to find him. The raiders, however, found Dr. James Brewer visiting a patient in Jefferson Val- ley. He was placed on a horse with one of the band- the notorious freebooter, Joshua Hneson-and was taken down Hog Lane. They were fired upon by a party of Americans, and Dr. Brewer, thinking it a good time to escape, leaped from the horse and was shot and mortally wounded by Hueson.3 He expired next morning in the arms of Dr. White,4 and was buried in the yard of the Presbyterian Church at Crompond, where a stone marks his last resting- place. His age as given on it is thirty-nine years, four months and seven days. Dr. Brewer was a native of Massachusetts and wasthe father of seven children, one of whom was Dr. James Brewer, who died in Peekskill in 1867. Mrs. Coffin S. Brown, of Peekskill, is a grand-daughter.

Hneson was at one time tried as a Tory by the Committee of Safety and sent to jail. He was a notorious marauder and made himself the terror of the neighbor- hood. In attempting to enter the house of Seth Whitney, by a rear window which he had smashed in with a large stone, he was stabbed with a bayonet fastened upon a stiek in the hands of the owner, the only weapon left him in their frequeut robbe- ries. "The raseal has killed me," he exelaimed as he fell. The gang seized Mr. Whitney, dragged him from his horse, terribly disfigured his face by blows upon the head with their heavy horse-pistols, THE UNDERHILL HOUSE, WHERE ANDRE TOOK BREAKFAST. and left him for dead. This summary and ernel method of disposing of their ment arrived at Pine's Bridge about 10 o'clock same | antagonist was adopted for fear of arousing the militia evening, and Col. Jameson with the dragoons about 2 o'clock next morning. The evening of the 23rd Col. Hazen returned with the detachment, the enemy did not come out. 1

"Dee. 20th, 1780. - Further intelligence having been received that Col. de Lancey intended to visit our troops on the lines, 150 men were ordered from the New Hampshire line to march to Crompond." ?

In the vicinity of Crompond, on the farm now owned and occupied by Elijah Lee, lived Dr. Ebenezer White. His capture was attempted by a band of Cowboys, either with the design of exchanging him for a British surgeon, not long before captured by the Americans, or because the British were in need of medical and surgical service. A Tory friend warned Dr. White of his peril ; several nights

by the reports of their fire-arms. Hueson received a mortal wound, while Mr. Whitney lived many years and carried his honorable sears to the grave. The house is situated a short distance north of Yorktown Station and belongs to the estate of the late General Bernardus Montross.

Dr. Thaeher, writing in his " Military Journal," re- fers to Crompond as follows : 5

"The advanced guard of our army, consisting of about two hundred men, is posted at Crompond, about twenty miles below West Point, and is relieved every two or three weeks. A surgeon constantly attends, and I am now ordered to repair to that post to relieve Dr. Thomas."

1 Heath's Memoirs, p. 260. 2 Jleath's Memoirs.

3 Statement of Dr. Brewer's death has been taken from a narrative written by his daughter-in-law, Hannah Brewer, wife of Joseph.

4 Bolton, " History of County of Westchester, " vol. ii. pp. 384 and 385. " Thacher's " Military Journal," pp. 248-249.

149

YORKTOWN.

" Cromupond, March, 1781 .- I have taken my quar- ters at Crompond, in a house with Major Trescott, who commands at this post. This vicinity is constantly harassed by small parties of volunteers on our side, and parties of royalists and tories on the other, who are making every effort to effect mntual destruction, seek- ing every opportunity to beat up each other's quarters, and to kill or capture all who are found in arms. Major Trescott is an excellent disciplinarian, an active, vigilant officer, and well acquainted with his duty. A party of volunteers collected here on horse- back for a secret expedition, and by their earnest re- quest, Major Trescott marched in the night with a party to cover their retreat, and to take any advan- tage which might offer. The party returned next day with six Tory prisoners, three of whom were wounded with the broad-sword. One of our volun- teers, named Hunt, received a dangerons wound through his shoulder and lungs, the air escaping from the wound at every breath. Dr. Eustus camc to the lines, and dilated the wound in the breast, aud as the patient is atliletic and had not sustained a very copious loss of blood, he recommended repeated and liberal blood-letting, observing that, in order to cure a wound through the lungs, you must bleed your patient to death. He eventually recovered, which is to be ascribed to the free use of the lancet and such abstemious living as to reduce him to the greatest ex- tremity. A considerable number of wounded prison- ers receive my daily attention."

About a mile and a half south of Yorktown Station, on a lane leading from the Pine's Bridge road, is a honse occupied at the time of the Revolution by Richardson Davenport as a sort of public house. At this place, on the 14th of May, 1781, occurred a bloody fight which resulted in the death of Colonel Greene, who had repulsed the Hessians at Fort Mercer, Red Bank, on the Delaware, 1777, Major Flagg and others. The story of the event is as follows.1

Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Grecne, an officer of a Rhode Island regiment, and a brave and intrepid soldier, was stationed to guard the ford of the Croton River, lying some distance west of the present Pine's Bridge, in order to prevent marauding excursions by the British. He was in the habit of guarding his post very carefully during the night, but took off the guards in the morning, never anticipating that a passage would be attempted by the enemy in daylight. The headquarters of himself and Major Flagg were at Davenport's honse, and the troops were distributed among the different farm-houses in order the better to procure subsistence.

A person by the name of Gilbert Totten, who had been angered by being made the subject of military discipline, is said to have informed Colonel De Lancey

of Colonel Greeue's method of stationing his gnards, out of a spirit of revenge. Colonel De Lancey, who was smarting under an attack made upon him in his quarters not long before, by the Americans, at once fitted out a force of one hundred dragoons and two hundred foot, which left Morrisania four P.M. 13th, and during the niglit advanced by way of White Plains, where was the only opening through the line of American sentinels stretched across the country, past Danicl Underhill's at Chappaqua, and then by the westerly road till they arrived in the vicinity of the ford of the Croton, guarded by Colonel Greene's pickets. Assoon as the guards were drawn off, De- Lancey despatched a portion of his troops across the river to make the attack, while he remained behind, with the idea of covering the retreat of his forces, if uecessary.

Unperceived in the early dawn, the enemy, under Captain Kipp, of the horse, and Lieutenant Totten, of the rangers, took the Americans completely by surprise. Colonel Greene and Major Flagg were awakened by the noise of their approach, and attempted to defeud them- selves. Flagg fired his pistol, and then fell mortally wounded with a bullet through his head. Colonel Greene received his opponents as they burst into liis room, with his drawn sword, and stretched several of them on the floor. At lengtli, overpowered by num- bers and weakened with the loss of blood, he fell. " His right arm was almost cut off in two places, his left in one, a severe cut was received on the left shoul- der, a sword thrust through the abdomen, a bayonet thrust in the right side, several sword cuts in the lead, and mauy in different parts of the body." His body was found the next day by Major Joseph and Captain Henry Strang near the residence of Mr. Sutton.2

Besides these two officers, two subalterns and twenty seven men were killed, and several others were wounded.

' At the same time Captain Knapp, of the horse, with a detachment under his command, attacked the house of widow Griffin, about half a mile distant from the above, where lie took oue ensign and twenty privates and killed eight men."3

Lientenant-Colonel Greene was murdered in the meridian of life, being only forty-four years old. He married, in 1758, Miss Ann Lippitt, a daughter of Mr. J. Lippitt, of Warwick, whom he left a widow with three sons aud four daugliters. He was stout and strong in person, about five feet ten inches high, with a broad, round chest, his aspect manly and demeanor pleasing. Enjoying always a high state of health, its bloom irradiated a countenance which significantly expressed the fortitude and mildness invariably dis- played throughout his life.

1 From Heath's Memoirs, 288-289, and Colonel II. Lee's " History of the Southern War," and Bolton, "History of Westchester County," pp. 391 to 395, vol. ii., (old edition) and Moore's Diary of "American Revolu- tion."

2 Bolton's " History of County of Westchester," vol. ii. p. 394, note (old edition).

3 Gaine's Mercury, May 21, 1781, quoted by Moore in " Diary of Ameri- can Revolution, " etc.

bị

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450

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

His death is said to have given great grief to Gen- eral Washington. His remains and those of Major Flagg were interred with military honors, and repose in the cemetery adjoining the Presbyterian Church at Crompond. There is no gravestone to mark their last resting-place.

The marks of the bullets are'still visible in the old house in which Colonel Greene and Major Flagg slept. The house is at present occupied by George J. Griffen.

The following aneedotes have come down from Rev- olutionary times : Captain Henry Strang, of the mili- tia, was captured and carried off by the Cowboys, who prieked him with their bayonets in the legs until the blood ran down. He determined to escape, if possi- ble. Reaching a wooded portion of the road from Yorktown Station to Pine's Bridge, a short distance south of the residence of the late R. M. Underhill, near where is now a large boulder, he had almost freed his hands and was about to carry into execution his purpose, when the rustling of the leaves so frightened his eaptors that they fled, leaving him at liberty.

A bold ruse that was devised and carried out suc- cessfully by a number of residents of Crompond and vicinity, upon another occasion, may not be unwor- thy of notice. A party of twenty-six Cowboys made a raid in the night into Yorktown from the southern border, and on their way north kidnapped a highly respectable eitizen of the town by the name of Daniel Horton. Mr. Horton was hurried away without his hat, and asked to be allowed to get it. The leader of the band replied that they would give him a eap when they returned to Croton River, a figure of speceli which meant that they would hang him. The news of his capture having spread, Elijah Lee, Enos Lee, Josiah Ingersoll (brother-in-law of Mr. Horton) and one other man, all of whom lived at or near Crom- pond, resolved to attempt his rescue. The following morning early they posted themselves in ambush at a narrow pass a little to the south of the present Bap- tist Church, where they knew the party of marauders would have to pass on their return. The Cowboys presently appeared, with Mr. Horton among them, and a number of cows, the fruits of their industry dur- ing the night, in the centre. When opposite the am- bush the four men suddenly sprang to their feet, fir- ing off their guns and making as much noise as pos- sible. Elijah Lee shouted, "Now, my boys, surround them !" Without waiting to aseertain the ability of their enemies to execute the manœuvre, the fright- ened Cowboys galloped off as fast as possible, leaving Mr. Horton and their plunder behind. The leader of the raiders afterwards, to his great mortification, heard of the size of the party that had routed his band, and swore a round oath to cut Mr. Lee into pieces when he had the chance. He never had it.1

Mr. Horton lived on the farm now owned and oc-

cupied by Hickson Covert, situated on the west side of the road from Florenceville to the Yorktown Bap- tist Church.

THE FRENCH ENCAMPMENTS IN YORKTOWN .- The French army was twiee encamped in the neighbor- hood of Crompond. The army consisted of about five thousand men, under the command of Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau. The army had originally consisted of six regiments, but only four were engaged in the expedition which oc- easioned their passage through Yorktown. They were the regiments of Bourbonnois, Soisonnois, Saintonge and the Royal Deux-Ponts (of Alsace), and there were besides the independent legion of cavalry, commanded by the Due de Lauzun, and five hundred artillerists. The French army had arrived at Newport, R. I., in July, 1780, but remained inactive until about the middle of 1781. On the 18th of June they commeneed their march westward. July 6th the French and American armies joined at White Plains, Washington being then desirous of investing New York. After- wards the course of events led him to resolve to at- tempt the capture of Cornwallis, at Yorktown, Va. On the 19th of August the Americans commeneed their mareh through Sing Sing to King's Ferry, and the French marched north to North Castle, a part of the present village of Mt. Kiseo, and, August 21st, started on the mareh through what is now the town of Yorktown.

In the diary of a French officer occurs the follow- ing entry with reference to this portion of their jour- ney : "Ang. 21st-We left North Castle very early in the morning to march to Hun's (Hunt's tavern) ; at this place there are four or five houses at the head of Crompond. The troops eneamped in the evening at Hun's tavern, at a place more convenient than military. They marched very well, and the trains arrived in good season, although many of the wagons again broke down on the way. The roads are quite good, except on leaving l'en's (Pine's) Bridge, where there is quite a high mountain." The length of their march to Hun's tavern had been nine miles.

"Aug. 22d-We left Hun's tavern to march to King's Ferry. Nine miles from Hun's tavern is Peskill (Peekskill), a village of about twenty houses, quite close to each other." ?

A deed bearing date of February 15, 1802, given by " Solomon Hunt, of the City and State of New York, gentleman, and Mary, his wife, to Henry Strang, of Yorktown, in the county of Westchester," conveys to the latter forty acres, more or less, " all of which be- came forfeited to the people of this State by the con- viction of Caleb Frost." This property is now in the possession of Benjamin Flewellen. The tavern was most probably at the junction of the roads from Pine's Bridge and Katonah to Peekskill, where tradition has

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 105

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286