The refugee command-ant accordingly, after a short detention, was released upon parole; but it appears that he was not exchanged so as to bear arms until the following summer. Meanwhile colonel James de Lancey who is said to have been jealous of the reputation acquired by Bearmore, came forward and took command of the Westchester refugees; a charge which during the war he never afterward relinquished. His recent success at West Farms induced colonel Armand to make a second attack upon the refugee out-posts. He now determined to carry off colonel de Lancey from his

24 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

quarters at Morris' house in Fordham. This was an enter-prise of much difficulty and danger, as the attempt would necessarily be made in the midst of the whole refugee force which was concentrated around their commander, several miles below the British outposts at Kingsbridge and West Farms, and in the immediate vicinity of Fort George situate upon Laurel-hill, on the west side of Harlem river. The perils, which seemed to await the movement, rendered it but the more acceptable to the officers of the legion when they were informed of what was in contemplation, and their colonel at once determined to strike at the refugee commander, trust-ing for safety in the rapidity of his advance and retreat. During the night of the 1st of December and on the eve of a snow storm, he moved with the greater part of his legion as before to Williamsbridge, and having posted his infantry in ambush a short distance south of that pass, galloped at the head of a troop of dragoons towards Morris' house. As he approached Kingsbridge it was daylight, and he took to the fields in order to avoid patrols and escape observation. Fences, in the vicinity, had long since disappeared before the presence of large armies; and the paths used for travel and other landmarks were now shrouded from view by a fresh carpet of snow that for some time had fallen very fast.