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. They consulted together and agreed to proceed. When within two or three miles of Delancey's outpost they took an inhabitant who was in the habit of frequenting daily the out- post and trading with the enemy and who knew the counter-sign or watchword, when hailed by a sentinel. This man informed them that there was a refugee in bed upstairs who would answer their purpose better than himself Oakley went upstairs, ordered him up and informed him what they wanted; he said if he was found out they would hang him. Oakley gave him his word of honor that it should not be made known as long as the war lasted. They learned from the refugee that the outpost had but one sentinel, it being dark and stormy that they were not apprehensive of an attack. When within one hundred yards of the house they halted and informed the soldiers what was to be done. They told

xii INTRODUCTION

the refugee if he was faithful, as soon as they effected their purpose he might go, but if he had deceived them they would kill him on the spot. They then placed the refugee in front of two soldiers, one behind the other and Oakley behind them that they might appear as one man and ordered the refugee when hailed to answer but press forward and seize the sen-try, which they did with his gun on his shoulder.