During part of the summer and autumn of 1778, the main body of the American forces under General Washington, was encamped at Whiteplains with a strong advanced corps posted near Tuckahoe, a few miles in front under General Scott, while still farther below, this latter officer stationed a picket guard of about one hundred and fifty riflemen under Colonel Gist, which lay on the heights, a little south of the Episcopalian parsonage then occupied by the widow Bab-cock. John Odell was Gist's chief guide, and as respects most of his operations, was also his confidential adviser. Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe at that time in command of the British light troops about Kingsbridge and Fordham, marched with his whole force before daybreak, on the morning of the 16th of September upon the camp of the American colonel,

THE WESTCHESTER GUIDES 71 for the purpose of surrounding and taking his detachment by surprise. Lietuenant-colonel Emmerich conducted the ad-vance so adroitly, that the infantry of his corps and that of the Queen's rangers passed between two pickets of riflemen and gained the heights in rear of the American camp undiscov-ered. Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton in the meantime with the whole of his cavalry, had taken possession of Valentines' Hill on the East, while Major Prueschenck and Captain Wreden with strong detachments of the yagers were hastening to sta-tions where they might cut off the retreat of the Americans, towards the south or west. It was now a little before six o'clock in the morning. The Continental detachment was almost encircled by an over-whelming force, and nothing appeared wanting to render escape impossible but a few moments more of time, in order that Prueschenck and Wreden might gain their proper pos-tions. The destruction of Gist's corps seemed inevitable, but in the very hour of fate, fortune first, and then his guide, stepped forward for his preservation.