It is a monument of patient, per-sistent and discriminating research.

INTRODUCTION xi

and when he arrived went to Mrs. Day's Tavern and threw himself upon her mercy and friendship, telling her that his life and liberty were in her power. The woman was much alarmed and trembled with agitation but said she would do all in her power to aid him. Mrs. Day is an old acquaintance and tried to get a boat to take him across the Haerlem River but could not succeed. He then asked for a rope and a bottle of brandy. She had no rope, but he persuaded her to cut the cording of one of her beds and give it to him. She also supplied him with a bottle of brandy. With the cord and some rails he made a raft and with much difficulty got across when his knowledge of the country enabled him soon to join his friends.

FROM CALEB TOMPKINS' PAPER Some time in the year 1781 or 2 Isaac Oakley (brother of Cornelius Oakley) was taken prisoner. The night after he was taken Cornelius Oakley and Abraham Dyckman (both guides to the American Army when any of them was sta-tioned in Westchester County to aid the militia in defending the lower part of the county) a lieutenant's command of twenty-two men were stationed near them. Oakley and Dyckman prevailed upon the lieutenant to accompany them to Westchester and try and retake Isaac Oakley before he was taken to New York. They started and after proceeding four or five miles night overtook them and was likely to be very dark and rainy. The lieutenant hesitated about proceeding farther as he had no orders and if anything disastrous should happen he might be censured, but concluded to leave it to Oakley and Dyck-men.