It was considered best to remain here awhile, in order to refresh the men and to make arrangements for the coming attack. After a rest of a couple of hours, the party again set forward at ten o'clock. It was full moon, and the night so clear -- 'a winter's day could not be brighter,' -- that the Indian village was soon discovered at a distance. It consisted of three rows of houses or huts, ranged in streets, each eighty paces long, and backed by a mountain which sheltered it from the nprth-west wind.

"But the Indians were as much on the alert as their enemy. They soon discovered the Dutch troops, who charged forthwith, surrounding the camp, sword in hand. The Indians evinced on

* Supposed Stony hills, a mountainous ridge north of Bedford.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 5

this occasion, considerable boldness, and made a rush once or twice, to break the Dutch line, and open some way for escape. But in this they failed, leaving one dead and twelve prisoners, in the hands of the assailants, who now kept up such a brisk fire, that it was impossible for any of tlie besieged to escape. After a desperate conflict of an hour, one hundred and eighty Indians lay dead on the snow outside their dwellings. Not one of the survivors durst now show his face. They remained under cover, discharging their arrows from behind, to the great annoyance of t?ie Dutch troops. Underbill now seeing no other way to overcome the obstinate resistance of the foe, gave orders to fire their huts. This order was forthwith obeyed ; the wretched inmates, endeavoring in every way, to escape from the horrid flames, but mostly without success. The moment they made their appearance, they rushed or were driven precipitately back into their burning hovels, ' preferring to be consumed by fire than to fall by our weapons.'