INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW CORSA OF FORDHAM, OCTOBER 7, 1848 Soon after the French and American armies came down to reconnoitre (New York) Cornelius Oakley and Isaac Webbers came for me on a Sunday morning and asked me to accom-pany them as a guide to Morrisania and I went. We found Generals Washington and Rochambeau waiting for us-- (From here on the account is substantially the same as given in Bolton's '"'History of the County of Westchester,' New York, 1881, Vol. 2, pp. 532-534 incl.)

INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM BARKER OF EASTCHESTER, OCT. 20 AND 23, 1850 Elijah Vincent a blacksmith of Eastchester after the war had a quarrel with Cornelius Oakley at White Plains and offered combat on the spot. "I'll fight you with any weapon you may make choice of, from a six-pounder to a pop-gun, and from a dragoon's sword to a cambric needle."

xvi INTRODUCTION

In addition to the ''Papers'' and interviews McDonald left a number of note-books which are among the manuscripts in the library of the New York Historical Society. These exhibit wide reading and research and show that the author was a sincere and thorough student. In observance of the sesqui-centennial of many of the events described, the papers are chronologically arranged rather than in the order of their preparation. The size of the volume is determined by the amount of the appropria-tion; the arrangement is such that the parts may be bound together as one volume when publication is completed. Acknowledgment is given William A. Moore [X], President of the Board of Education, New Rochelle, who courteously loaned the photostatic copies of the papers for use in prepar-ing this volume. Also to the New York Historical Society and its librarian, Alexander J. Wall, for preparing the photo-stats. To Otto Hufeland greatful appreciation is rendered for cooperation, for helpful suggestions and for placing at my disposal the contents of his library.