{"chunks_used":3,"query":"The Lieutenant Was Being Shaved","report":"**Research Synopsis: The Lieutenant Was Being Shaved**  \n\n**Context and Setting**  \nThe events of December 2, 1781, in Westchester County during the American Revolutionary War involved a clash between Patriot forces and Loyalist \"Refugees\" (Loyalists). Captain Richard Sackett\u2019s company, stationed at Merritts Corners, included a diverse group of soldiers: former British sergeants, African Americans, Indigenous Long Island men, and local farmers. Lieutenant William Mosier, a stone mason and Sackett\u2019s second-in-command, played a pivotal role in the skirmish (Macdonald, 1926-27).  \n\n**The Attack on Sackett**  \nAs Sackett was being shaved by a local boy at Josiah Fowler\u2019s tavern, a sudden Loyalist attack captured him and his brother James. Meanwhile, Mosier and most of the company fled through fields, evading mounted Refugees hindered by high rail fences. The two groups remained within sight, with Mosier eventually forming his men into a defensive square on a hilltop, ordering them to \"fix bayonets\" (Macdonald, 1926-27).  \n\n**Mosier\u2019s Leadership and the Shaving Incident**  \nA separate account from John Lyon\u2019s 1848 interview with John Macdonald adds a personal dimension. Mosier, described as a \"celebrated Lieutenant\" and the speaker\u2019s brother-in-law, was shaving when Refugees attacked. The Loyalist officers taunted him: \"Now you are half shaved, Mosier, you had better give up.\" Mosier refused, declaring, \"I will not,\" as the Refugees threatened his life. This anecdote, relayed by Mosier himself, underscores the personal peril faced by Patriot officers during the war (Macdonald, 1848).  \n\n**Aftermath and Legacy**  \nThe skirmish left a lasting mark on local memory. Mosier survived the battle but died decades later in Dutchess County, where his sons resided. The conflict also highlighted the regional tensions in Westchester, where Loyalist and Patriot forces frequently clashed. The McDonald Papers note the company\u2019s transient composition, with many soldiers serving briefly before being captured or dispersed (Macdonald, 1926-27).  \n\n**Sources Consulted**  \n- Macdonald, John. Interview with Lyon, James, 1761-1850; (1848-11-04). *John M. McDonald Interviews, 1844-1851*. Westchester County Historical Society.  \n- Macdonald, John MacLean. *Mosier\u2019s Fight with Refugees*. In *The McDonald Papers, Part II, Chapter 6*, Publications of the WCHS, Vol. V (1926-27).  \n\nThe documents agree on the December 2, 1781, date and the shaving incident but differ in emphasis: the interview focuses on Mosier\u2019s personal story, while the McDonald Papers provide military context. Together, they illuminate the localized struggles of the Revolutionary War in Westchester.","sources_consulted":["Macdonald, John. Interview with Lyon, James, 1761-1850; (1848-11-04). John M. McDonald Interviews, 1844-1851, WCHS item 1285. Westchester County Historical Society. Transcribed by history.croton.news April 2026.","Macdonald, John MacLean. Mosier's Fight with Refugees. In The McDonald Papers, Part II, Chapter 6, Publications of the WCHS, Vol. V. 1926-27."]}