Soon after the destruction of Lexington and Concord (by the British troops) he threw up business, and agreeing with his patriotic father in sentiment, determined by an appeal to arms, to obtain either liberty or death. In this intention he was strongly opposed by his tory relations, who used every effort to induce him to join their standard. Governor Tryon at the same time forwarded him a major's conmiission in the Cortlandt militia. This document he subsequently destroyed, and received in lieu thereof a lieutenant colonel's commission in the Continental service, bearing dale June, 1775, signed John Hancock,

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 59

President of Congress. He continued to hold the above command in the 4th New York recrinient until November the 28th, 1776, when lie received from General Washington a colonel's commission in the 2d New York regiment. In this capacity he served at the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga. In both of these actions the New York regiment suffered severely. In the winter of 1778 he was ordered to protect the frontiers against the depredations of Brant, the Indian chief, who had destroyed much valuable property and murdered several of the defenceless inhabitants. In pursuance of these orders Col. van Corllandt marched to Laghawack, where he posted his command. Soon afterwards havinof received fresh orders from the commander-in-chief, he was on the eve of marchino; when Brant, supposing he had left the neighborhood, prematurely set fire to an adjoining village. The colonel immediately started his whole command in hot pursuit. Upon the first tidings, however, of their approach, Brant fled to the neighboring hills. In his diary Gen. Philip van Cortlandt remarks, "As I approached him (Brant) he being on the hills, and seeing me leaning against a pine tree waiting for the closing up of my men, ordered a rifle Indian to kill me, but fortunately he over-shot me, tlte. ball passing three inches over my head.