With an unconquerable predilection for stratagem, our hero immediately concerted a plot, for the sole purpose, as he says, of affording " a little sport for his soldiers." He accordingly proceeded down to the Point, accompanied by six men, five of whom, besides himself, concealed themselves in the woods, which grew a short distance from the shore, while the other paraded the beach so as to display La Fayette's uniform in so conspicuous a manner, as to attract the notice of the officers on board the vessel.

The enemy swallowed the bait ; and a boat soon put off from the sloop of war, manned with eleven men, under the command of a lieutenant, to make a prisoner of this one yankee, who precipitately fled into the woods as the barge approached the shore. The Englishmen followed, threatening to shoot the fugitive unless he stopped and surrendered.

As soon as the pursuers had passed his own little party, which were scattered in various directions, Crosby exclaimed,

'•' Come on my boys ! now we have them !"

At this signal, every man sprang up in his place, with a shout that made the welkin ring ; making at the same time such a rustling in the bushes, that the British, thinking themselves surrounded by a superior force, surrendered without resistance. On the next day they were marched to Fishkill, and confined in the old Dutch church.''^

16th of October, 1799, (remarks Gen. Heath,) fourteen seamen were taken prisoners by Capt. Hallet's company of New York militia, two days before on the North River, near Teller's Point. c