Generally speaking, the people of Westchester were, at this time, averse to separation from Great Britain. The royal officers, averse to separation from Great Britain. The royal officers, in consequence, earnestly endeavored to prevent their soldiers from plundering. Notwithstanding these efforts, the farmers suffered much; chiefly in the loss of provisions and cattle, and in the destruction of their fences. During the campaign of 1776, the inhabitants sustained greater injury from the foreign soldiers than from the British. The Hessians,

BATTLE OF WHITEPLAINS 63 ignorant of the country and of the causes of war, were dis-posed to treat with military rigor, all whom they considered rebels. Even at his own table at Whiteplains, General de Heister is said to have threatened with personal violence an American officer who had been taken prisoner, because he refused to drink the King's health. A widow named Woodward, with a numerous family, lived near the village of Whiteplains, in a sequestered spot. She was visited one night by a party of Hessian soldiers, who de-manded something to eat. The poor woman, alarmed for the safety of herself and her children, hastened to propriate the intruders. She placed before them the best cheer her house afforded, that is to say, plenty of cider and pumpkin pies, a large batch of which latter she had just withdrawn from the oven. After satisfying their hunger, the ungrateful guests disposed of the remaining pies by cutting them into small pieces and throwing them, so as to stick fast against the walls and ceiling of the room. Previously to the war of independence, feats of a personal prowess, dexterity, and strength were customary and popular with the inhabitants of Westchester. Among the most cel-ebrated champions of his day, both as a wrestler and a fighter, was a young man of Whiteplains, named Gilbert Hatfield, whose father, on the near approach of the enemy, had retired to a place of safety, leaving his house and farm, in charge of this, his eldest son.