They were mounted, and the Governor, to stimulate enlistments j: that branch of the service, gave them a reward of twenty-five dollar: for the capture of every committeeman, aval five dollars each for ever-, deserter.' This command soon grew to be a very effective regimen. They were given the name of Cow Boys, as their thorough kuowledg of the roads and country was a great help to them in that particular line of cattle capture. On the night of Nov. 17, 1777, Peter and Cornelius Van Tassel were taken prisoners at their homes by Cap'.. Kmmerick's command from King's Bridge, a part of which also pr< ceeded to the house of Maj. Abraham Storms, which they partially burned. The enemy having collected the Van Tassel's stock of cattle, made sure their prisoners should not escape as they tied their hands l< their horses' tails, in which position they compelled them to drive thei; cattle to their camp. While they were preparing to burn the dwelling, Lt. Van Tassel's son, Cornelius, Jr., having secreted himself in the attic, was driven out by the smoke. Throwing a blanket over his head he came down stairs and sprang over tin* lower half of the hall door and ran rapidly to the Saw Mill River, pursued by the enemy, who gave up the chase when they found that he had broken his way through the ice, in order to escape to the Karen Ilott, the picket station on Beaver Mountain. Cornelius, Jr., died Jan. 3, 1780, as the result of his exposure at the time of his father's capture. While the dwelling waS burning one of the soldiers actuated with praiseworthy feelings of humanity obtained a feather bed and threw it over the mother and child, who were then left to care for themselves as best they could.