" On the 4th of December, 1781, (says General Heath) Captain Sackett of the New York levies near Harrison purchase below the lines, having gone a small distance from his detachment on the morning of the 2d, was taken prisoner by a party of the enf»my. The enemy afterward attacked Lieutenant Mosher to whom the command of the detachment fell. Lieutenant Mosher and the detachment behaved with great bravery, repulsed the enemy, killed one of them and two horses, and wounded eight of the enemy, among them a Captain Kipp, said mortally. Colonel Holmes and Captain Kipp had their horses killed under them, the levies had not a man killed or wounded."^

Tlie above engagement took place in the vicinity of Merritt's tavern. Moshers command consisted of only eighteen men, while the British horse under Colonel Holmes numbered over seventy.*^

*■ Heath's Mem. 75, 76. From a return of militia officers for Harrison's Precinct, February 9ih, 1776, it appears that John Thomas, minor, was chosen captain, Gilbert Dusenberry first lieutenant, William Woodward second lieutenant and James Miller, jun. ensign.

b Heath's Mem. p. 324.

* A full narrative of this memorable event has been published in almost every e<*UQtry in Europe, showing what a handful of infantry can do, opposed to a strong

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 261

We believe the whole period of the American war cannot produce such another instance, in which the enemy were repulsed by so small a force. General Washington himself often spoke of this brilliant alfair, and praised the gallantry of the brave Mosher.a