Souvenir of the Revolutionary Soldiers' Monument Dedication at Tarrytown

Samuel Young.

Mr. Dean again details another hair-breadth escape, saying : Went out one morning with a small party of men, east of the upper cross-roads in the south part of Mount Pleasant, to see what we could find ; after going a short distance, we saw some men ahead of us with guns ; we started pretty rapidly after them, and when coming close to them, they started to make their escape, and separated. I put after one full speed, and soon overtaking him, he turned upon me to make a light. I told him to "surrender!" but he being very obstinate, refused and tried very hard to shoot me. But I prevented him from doing it by spurring my horse; knocked the gun up with my sword, which was very long, and saved myself.

We parleyed for some time, until my patience was exhausted, and I made a desperate rush at him by spurring my horse. He made a pass at me with his gun; the bayonet struck my horse in the mouth, which left his head exposed, when I gave him a backhanded stroke across the cheek, and cut part of his ear off. He fell to the ground and I didn't intend to strike him again, but he presented his gun again to shoot me, and I then struck him two or three times across the head and arms. I then thought, " If he can live lie may."

T dismounted and raised him up, and lie fainted for awhile. When he came to, he revived, and said he, "I'm a dying man, but do not blame you for what you have done." I said, " You are ..worth a dozen dead men -- rouse up and get on my horse." I got him upon the horse and took him to the nearest house, where 1 borrowed some old linen and scraped lint and dressed his wounds as well as I was able and left him.