A person living within that space, who took the oath of fidelity, was sure to be plundered by the Cow-boys; and if he did not take it, the Skinners would come down upon him, call
*■ This was not a Dutch woman, zis the historian supposes, but Mrs, Sarah Underliill, wife of Isaac Underliii), of Yorktown, whose grandson, Edward Borough Un- <lerhitl, still owns ihe iiousc. -- Editok.
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. ^ 211
him a tory, and seize his property as confiscated by tlie state. Thus the execution of the laws was assumed by robbers, and ilie innocent and guilty were involved in a common ruin.
It is true the civil authority endeavored to guard against ihe^o outrages, so for as it could, by legislative enactments and executive proclamations; but, from the nature of the case, this form, idable conspiracy against tlie rights and claims of humanity could be crushed only by a military arm. The detachments of Continental troops and militia, stationed near the lines, did something to lessen the evil, yet they were not adequate to its suppressior, and frequently this force was so feeble as not to afford any barrier to the inroads of the banditti.
The Skinners and Cow-boys often leagued together. The former would sell their plunder to the latter, taking in exchange contraband articles brought from New York. It was not uncommon for the farce of a skirmish to be acted near the American
. lines, in which the Skinners never failed to come off victorious ; and then they would go boldly to the interior with their booty, pretending it had been captured from the enemy while attempi-