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."
In the year 1779-80, Col. Van Cortlandt was a member of the court that tried Gen. B. Arnold for improper conduct. His own views of the matter are thus recorded in the his diary : " Gen. Arnold being under arrest for improper conduct in Philadelphia, while he commanded there, I was chosen one of the court-martial, Maj. Gen. Howe, President. There were also in that court four officers who had been at Ticonderoga when Col. Hazen was called on for trial, &c. ; we were for cashiering Arnold, but the majority overruled, and he was finally sentenced to be reprimanded by the commander-in-chief. Had all the court known Arnold's former conduct as well as myself he would have been dismissed the service," &c.
In the year 1780 Col. Van Cortlandt was selected as one of the colonels to command a regiment of infantry under Major General La Fayette. A letter is still preserved in the family from the Marquis de La Fayette
112 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.