The conflict was brought on by the firing of 'Jake Acker. ' He was famous in his days as a sharpshooter with musket or rifle, and being out probably hunting on the brushy and brambly elevation known as 'the Island,' between Saw Mill River and the road east of it, in company with John Dean, he saw a squad of twenty-eight British soldiers marching carelessly down the road toward the site of the present tavern, near the bridge over which the White Plains load crosses the Saw Mill River. 'Jake' was an intense Patriot, and considering every British soldier put out of the way as so much clear gain for the cause of Indc*

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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

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;vudeuce, he drew a bead on the marching squad, and as usual, he brought down Ids game. His ball struck one of the soldiers in the groin aid he fell. The others took up their wounded comrade and carried him some way up the rising ground, east of the road and north of the present tavern. His injury was mortal, and the poor fellow died. But while they were thus occupied with him, and taking counsel together what to do, 'Jake' who had reloaded his musket, crept stealthily through the bushes down to the eastern edge of the island, and, taking deliberate aim, sent another ball through the temples of a British soldier, who fell dead upon the spot. They were both afterwards buried on the island.

1 saw, said Mr. Van Wart, the graves of these two men on the island, with common field-stones for the head and the foot."