This spot is celebrated in the Westchester Spy, as the site of the hamlet of the Four Corners ; whilst a little west of the present Van Wart residence stood the " Hotel Flanagan, a place of entertainment for man and beast." In front of this imposing edifice, on a rough board suspended from a gallows-looking post, was written in red chalk,

"ELIZABETH FLANAGAN, HER HOTEL."

This illustrious personage, (who is said to have invented the wellknown beverage vulgarly called " cock-tail,"} was the widow of an American soldier who had fallen in the service of his country. She appears to have gained her livelihood by driving a cart to the various military encampments ; and as the Four Corners happened at this time to be the headquarters of the Virginia horse, Betty Flanagan had emigrated thither with the troops. Here she was stationed when the lawless Skinners dragged in the pedler spy.3

After Colonel Burr left the command of the troops on the lines, m the year 1779, Colonel Thompson, a man of approved bravery, assumed it, and fixed his headquarters at this place. " On the morning of the 3d of February, 1780, about nine o'clock, says General

a American State Papers on Revolutionary Claims. Doc. 600, page S5S. Joseph Tonng had been exchanged but a short time previous to this eveut. lie died in 1789. Anier. State Papers, Vol. XIX. Claims, p. 85».

i See Weetchester Spy, by Feuimore Cooper.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTEft.

Heath.) the enemy made an attack on Lieut.-Colonel Thompson, who commanded the troops on the lines ; the colonel's force consisted of two hundred and fifty men, in five companies, properly officered; they were instructed to move between Croton River and the White Plains, Hudson's River and Bedford ; never to remain long at any one place, that the enemy might not be able to learn their manner of doing duty, or form a plan for striking them in any particular situation.