This was a pretty affair ; and if the writer could recollect the name of the commanding officer, with pride and pleasure he w^ould insert it. He belonged to one of the southern lines of the army; and the whole of the party were southern troops.'^a

On the 31st of January, 1777, a cordon of troops was ordered to be formed, to extend from Dobb's Ferry to Mamaroneck. " February 1, 1777. Foraging being now the object, a large number of teams were sent out towards Mamaroneck, and upwards of eighty loads of forage were brought ofF."'^

The following letter of Gen. Samuel Parsons, dated at Mamaroneck, Nov. 21st, 1777, to Governor Tryon, with his answer, is copied from a newspaper printed at the time : -- '' ^

" Sir : -- Adding to the natural horrors of war the most wanton destruction of property, is an act of cruelty unknown to civilized nations, and unaccustomed

silver headed walking-stick inscribed " Henry Disbrow, 1697." The above heirlooms are in the possession of WiUiam Disbrow of New York.

»■ Heath's Mem. 74. Holt's Gazette. The dead who fell upon this occasioa were buried on the south east side of Nelson's hill.

b Heath's Mem. 114.

312 HISTORY OF THE

in war, until the servants of the King of Great Britain have convinced the impartial world, no act of inhumanity, no stretch of despotism, are too great to exercise toward those they term rebels.

" Had any apparent advantage been derived from burning the house on Philips' manor, last Monday, there vrould have been some reason to justify the measure ; but when no benefit whatever can be proposed, by burning those buildings and stripping the women and children of necessary apparel, to cover them from the severity of a cold night, and captivating and leading in triumph to your lines, in the most ignominious manner, the heads of those families, I know not what justifiable cause to assign for those acts of cruelty ; nor can I conceive a necessity for your further order to destroy Tarrytown.