Hammond came off with flying colors, and like many another had occasion to thank his envious enemies for filling the sails of fortune which bore him successfully forward. But for this trial comparatively little would have been known of his zeal and activity and good fighting qualities. No wonder the British vessels had sailed away up the river before he hardly had time to bring his guns to bear upon them.

We next find him presiding at a Court Martial held at Peekskill, Dec. 6, 1776, at which a number of marauders were brought to justice.

The Colonel used his pen as well as his sword, and dashed off a letter to the N. Y. Convention, or to Gov. Clinton, or General Washington, whenever he felt like it and he thought the public service demanded it. But so conspicuous and active an officer could not escape

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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

the attention of the enemy, and his daring manner finally put him in the way of being captured. As will be seen there are different accounts and dates named of that affair.

His son William, known as Gen. Wm. Hammond, states in an account of the Westchester Guides, that after the appointment of his father as Lieut. -Col. , their house was resorted to repeatedly by all who took an active part in the common cause, and that in the summer of

THE COE. HAMMOND HOUSE.

17S1, his father was taken prisoner, & c., while the following account is also given by another :