Such an outpost had been established at Merritts Corners under Captain Richard Sackett of Colonel Thomas' regiment, with William Mosier, a stone mason by trade as his lieutenant and a company of about thirty men,1 consisting of two former British sergeants who had joined the patriot side, four colored men-at least two of whom were slaves-two Indians from Long Island and a mixed collection of white men, mainly farmers and laborers from other parts of the county, who together were supposed to protect a rather indefinite territory in this vicinity.

1 In interviews with McDonald on October 30, 1845, October 12, 1846 and October 19, 1847, John Patterson, an active participant in the fight gave the following partial list of the men of Sackett's command from recollection: Captain Richard Sackett, taken prisoner Lieutenant William Mosier Sergeant James Croft David Slater } former British sergeants David Jones } Henry Christian Godfrey Voight John Patterson } colored Prince Sackett } Peter Sokaday } Indians from Long Island Mayhew } James Nearing William Campbell James Tuttle Abel or Abraham Williams James Sackett, brother of Captain, taken prisoner

68 THE McDONALD PAPERS

It was early on Sunday morning, December 2nd, 1781, while Sackett was being shaved by a lad from the neighbor-hood, that a body of Refugees appeared so suddenly that the surprised captain did not have time to wipe the lather from his face, before they took him and his brother James prisoners.1 Mosier with most of the company was encamped in a field south of the lane, a little more to the east and seeing the British coming ran with his men through the fields, the mounted Refugees on his left being compelled to remain in the lane by the high rail fences. The parties were about a quarter of a mile apart and within sight of each other most of the time.