Smith) two enterprizes for the destruction of American stores were undertaken. Col. Bird landed with about 500 men at Peekskill, March 23, fifty miles from New York. The few Americans who were stationed as a guard at this place, on the approach of the British, fired the principal store-houses and retired. The loss of the provisions was considerable."6 " September, 1777, the enemy came out on both sides of the Hudson simultaneously in considerable force, consisting from two to three thousand men, on which occasion

a Westchester and Putnam Republican, vasty 14th, 1S33. b Military Repository, by Charles Smith.

THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT.

the American barracks and store-houses, and the whole village of Peekskill 'was sacked and burnt and the country pillaged."" The Weekly Mercury of Feb. 16th, 1778, (published by Hugh Gaines,) contains a letter from Commodore Hotham to Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Howe which by his lordship was transmitted to all ships in service, &c, dated on board his Majesty's ship the Preston, lying off Peekskill creek. . Major Burr was stationed at Peekskill on the 21st July, 1777, when he received a lieutenant colonel's commission in the continental army, and from this place the traitor Arnold likewise received his appointment to West Point, dated August the 3d, 1780.

In the village of Peekskill was born John Paulding, one of the American farmers who intercepted Andre the British spy, at Tarrytown, some fifteen miles below this place. For his services on this occasion the State presented him with a farm situated within the town of Cortlandt. The property now belongs to Jacob Strang.