This document he subsequently destroyed, and received in lieu thereof a lieutenant colonel's commission in the Continental service, bearing date June, 1775, signed John Hancock, President of Congress. He continued to hold the above command in the 4th New York regiment until November the 28th, 1776, when he received from General Washington a colonel's commission in the 2d New York regiment. In this capacity he served at the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga. In both of these actions the New York regiment suffered severely. In the winter of 1778 he was ordered to protect the frontiers against the depredations of Erant, the Indian chief, who had destroyed much valuable property and murdered several of the defenseless inhabitants. In pursuance of these orders Col. Van Cortlandt marched to Laghawack, where he posted his command. Soon afterwards having received fresh orders from the commander-in-chief, he was on the eve of marching when Brant, supposing he had left the neighborhood, prematurely set fire to an adjoining village. The colonel immediately started his whole command in hot pursuit. Upon the first tidings, however, of their approach, Brant fled to the neighboring hills. In his diary Gen. Philip Van Cortlandt remarks, "As I approached him (Brant) he being on the hills, and seeing me leaning against a pine tree waiting for the closing up of my men, ordered a rifle Indian to kill me, but fortunately he over-shot me, the ball passing three inches over my head. I then pursued him, but could not overtake him, as he ran through a large swamp."