The British with a numerous army, and a powerful marine, were in possession of New York, while Washington, with an inferior and badly supplied army, dispirited by the affair of Long Island, was merely manoeuvring to keep them in check. The battle of W^hite Plains, October '2S(h, will long be remembered, as will the dismal prospect of that year, when the Patriot Fathers of America had still the couraore to declare Independence, and assert the rights of nature and of nations. a But though the morning

: , "^ July 4. 1776. - > •

xvi INTRODUCTION.

sun of Declared Independence arose thus in a cloud, -- while yet it wrs morning, Princeton, Trenton and the plains of Saratoga enjoyed a broad refulgence, diffusing new spirits over the nation. And it were well worthy the attention of every American youth to study the history of that war, and thus learn the price paid for Independence ; the better to know how to appreciate its value. Nor ought we to forget that the privileges so dearly purchased, can only be preserved to our posterity, by that zeal for our country which governed the conduct of our Aethers, now descended to the grave."^

''The County of Westchester," says Mr. N. P. Willis, 'Mias been made the scene of, perhaps, the best historical novel of our country, and, n;ore than any other part of the United States, suffered from the evils of war. The character and depredations of the " Cow-hoys'' and " Skinners,'^ whose fields of action were on the skirts of this "Neutral Ground," are familiar to all who have read " the Essay" of Mr. Cooper. A distinguished clergyman^ gives the following very graphic picture of Westchester County in those days : --