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. A day or two after the battle, young Hatfield was suddenly set upon, in a lonely place, by four Hessian soldiers. These were privates, who had wandered from their camp unarmed for the purpose of plundering. Two of the robbers laid hold of the young man, demanding his money. They soon discovered the magnitude of their mistake. In an instant he tripped up both his assailants, knocked down the other two, drew the four together, and bet them to his heart's content. He immediately reported this affair to the nearest Hessian commander, who expressed much concern at the occurrence, and offered to make a proper ex-ample of the soldiers; but was soon convinced by his informant, that the offenders had been already sufficiently punished.

64 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

Before the battle, General Charles Lee reached Whiteplains with the van of his division, and established his quarters about two miles above the village. The house selected for his temporary residence stood hard by the road, and was owned and occupied by the widow Annetjie Miller. Subse-quently his dinner happened to be served up at a moment when General Washington and his staff halted at the door, on their return to camp from a reconnaissance. An invita-tion to alight and partake of refreshment was of course ex-tended to the Commander-in-chief and his officers, which they gladly accepted; approaching the table with appetites sharpened by a long ride over the hills.