The McDonald Papers, Part II, Chapter 2: Marquis de la Rouerie (Col. Armand)
He set off upon this enterprise at noon with one hundred infantry and about thirty horse, being the most effective part of his corps, and arrived at Williamsbridge soon after eight o'clock. Here he placed his infantry in a position where they might cover his retreat the most advantageously, and at the head of twenty well mounted dragoons, previously selected for the purpose, pushed with all possible speed for alderman Leggett's house three miles below. It was about nine o'clock, when they reached the quarters of the celebrated major-commandant of the Westchester Refugees. The house was immediately sur-rounded and the inmates summoned to surrender. Perceiving that effectual resistance could not be made, Bearmore sur-rendered upon the instant, with five of his corps. Besides these prisoners, the legionary cavalry bore off numerous trophies of their success, consisting of horses, arms and accoutrements. After securing these memorials of victory and mounting the prisoners, colonel Armand lost not a moment in falling back upon his main force at Williamsbridge, and then, with the whole detachment, retiring rapidly, he
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regained his quarters unmolested and without the loss of a single man. This was considered by the writers of the day as an uncommonly bold and well conducted operation, and high encomiums were bestowed upon the colonel and his legion for the precaution, gallantry and discipline which they exhibited throughout the whole excursion. The danger of the enterprise will be manifest when it is known that Wurmb with his regiment of chasseurs, lay, at this time, on Tippett's hill, above Kingsbridge, and that Bearmore's quarters were four miles lower down than the Hessian out-guard; the Ger-man colonel consequently, by a march of little more than a mile, might have cut off the retreat of the legionary com-mander. The news of Bearmore's capture was received with great joy throughout Westchester, Dutchess and the Connecticut borders.