And'w Billings."

From the commencement of the Revolutionary war, New Rochelle appears to have suffered considerably from the incursions of the enemy and their emissaries. On the 18th of October, 1776, Lord Howe, the British commander, took post in the village ; General Washington occupying the intermediate heights between the two rivers. Whilst in New Rochelle, the enemy were joined by the second division of Germans, under the command of General Knvphausen, and by an incomplete

696 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

regiment of cavalry from Ireland, some of whom had been captured on their passage.

The Scotch Highland Battalion occupied the heights of New Rochelle. From this place both armies moved toward White Plains, on the 25th of October, 1776. Upon the 29th of January, 1777, General Wooster's division was ordered to New Rochelle.6 At the east end of the viliage, a severe skirmish took place between a body of American light horse, under Colonel Moyland, and the Queen's Rangers, commanded by Lieut. Colonel Simcoe/ In this affair, Colonel Moyland greatly distinguished himself by beating off the enemy, (who far outnumbered him,) and making good his retreat to Horse Neck.

The lands of this town are, in general, level and stony; but the soil is very productive, and much of it is a wet loam or clay, good for grass. The soil is also very propitious to the cultivation of fruit trees of all kinds. Most of its unimproved lands are covered with wood and timber: these lie principally on the east and west sides of the town. On the highlands grow chestnut, oak and hickory; on the lower grounds -- ash, birch, maple, elm, pine and hemlock, &c. It is also sufficiently watered by springs and brooks. New Rochelle furnishes an extensive list of minerals. Among the most important may be mentioned quartz, drusy, calcedony, agate, jasper, serpentine of almost every variety, and chromate of iron.