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. I then porsned him, but could not overtake him, as he ran through a large swamp.''

In the year 1779-80, Col. van Cortlandt was a member of the court that tried Gen. B. Arnold for improper conduct. His own views of the matter are thus recorded in his diary : '• Gen. Arnold being under arrest for improper conduct in Philadelphia, while he commanded there, I was chosen one of the court-mr.rtial, Maj. Gen. Howe, President. There were also in that court four officers who had been at Ticonderoga when Col. Hazen was called on for trial, &c. ; we were for cashiering Arnold, but the majority overruled, and he was finally sentenced to be reprimanded by the commander-in chief. Had all the court known Arnold's former conduct as well as myself he would have been dismissed the service," &c.

In the year 17S0 Col. van Cortlandt was selected as one of the colonels to command a regiment of infantry under Major General La Fayette. A letter is still preserved in the family