This illustrious personage, (who is said to have invented the well known beverage, vulgarly called "cock tail,") was the widow of an American soldier who had fallen in the service of his country. She appears to have gained her livelihood by driving a cart to the various military encampments; and as the Four Corners happened at this time to be the head-quarters of the Virginia horse, Betty Flanagan had emigrated thither with the troops. Here she was stationed when the lawless Skinners dragged in the .pedlar spy.b

After Colonel Burr left the command of the troops on the lines, in the year 1779, Colonel Thompson, a man of approved bravery, assumed it, and fixed his head-quarters at this place. " On the morning of the 3d of February, 1780, about 9 o'clock, (says

» American State Papers on Revolutionary claims. Doc. 600, page 858. b See Westchester Spy, by Fennimore Cooper.

352 HISTORY OF THE

General Heath,) ilie enemy made an attack on Lieut. Col. Thompson, who commanded the troops on the lines ; the colonel's force consisted of two hundred and fifty men, in five companies, properly Dl^cered ; they were instructed to move between Croton River and the White Plains, Hudson's River and Bedford; never to remain long at any one place, that the enemy might not be able to learn their manner of doing duty, or form a plan for striking them in any particular situation. The colonel had for some days taken post himself at Young's, not far from the White Plains. Capt. W\atson, with his company, was with the Lieut. Colonel ; Capt. Roberts and Capt. Stoddard, with their companies, were on the right ; Capt. Lieutenant Farley, and Capt. Cooper, on the left. The force of tlie enemy consisted of four flank companies of the first and second British regiments of guards, detachments from two Hessian battalions, some mounted yaugers,and mounted refugees-- the whole under the command of Colonel Norton, of the guards.