I have never felt more saddened at this injus-tice of fame, than when contemplating the merits of a class of men, who during the war of American Independence, steadily upheld "the good cause," acting sometimes as guides to the Continental and combined armies while operating in the adjacent county of Westchester, and sometimes as volunteers, but who in our days are scarcely remembered. In the latter part of 1775, and the beginning of the follow-ing year, the sons of such of the Westchester farmers as ear-nestly favored the proceedings of the Continental Congress, formed themselves into voluntary companies of horse and

THE WESTCHESTER GUIDES 67 foot, generally choosing their own officers. Travels con-nected with business and excursions of pleasure, had given then an accurate knowledge of the roads that traversed their native district, and frequent hunting parties, to which they were much accustomed, had made them acquainted with the hills, passes, and more unfrequented localities. In the early operations of the American forces in Westchester, when mili-tary conductors became necessary, they were sought for among the farmers of Westchester. The most intelligent were selected for the purpose and formed into a body called the "Westchester Guides." The greater part of them continued in the public service while the war lasted. When not acting as guides, they were employed as superintendents of forage or in some other capacity. In dangerous excursions they were always ready to take the lead, being admirably adapted for conducing partisan movements by enterprise, courage, skill in the use of their weapons, sound judgment, and topo-graphical knowledge of the country. In the attacks upon the British outposts particularly dur-ing the last years of the war, the American commanders were very often governed in their proceedings by the suggestions that came from these native strategists, and when in danger of capture, as the upper forces often were when down in small parties, from that rapidity of pursuit which the enemy were always enabled to make use of, in consequence of the concen-tration of their light troops along Harlem River, from Mor-risiana to Kingsbridge, it was not unusual for someone of the guides to take upon himself the entire direction of the retiring detachment, during the continuance of its retreat.