Whilst in New Rochelle, the enemy were joined by the second division of Germans, under the command of General Knyphausen, and by an incomplete regiment of cavalry from Ireland, some of which had been captured on their passage.

The Scotch Highland battalion occupied the heights of New Rochelle. From this place both armies moved toward White

» Abridged from Cheetham's Life of Paine.

t Among the household goods and chattels of the late William Cobbett, occurs a tox nj hones.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 445

Plains, on the 25th of October, 177(3.^ Upon the 29ih of January, 1777j General Wooster's division was ordered to New Rochelle> At the east end of the village, a severe skirmish took place between a body of American light horse, under Colonel Moyland. and the Queen's Rangers, commanded by Lieut. Colonel Simcoe.c In this affair, Colonel Moyland greatly distinguished himself by beating off the enemy, (who far out-numbered him,) and making good his retreat to Horse Neqjc.

The lands of this town are, in general, level and stony, but the soil is very productive, and much of it is a wet loam or clay, good for grass. The soil is also very propitious to the cultivation of fruit trees of all kinds. Most of its unimproved lands are covered with wood and tnnber : these lie principally on the east and west sides of the town. On the highlands grow chesnut, oak and hickory ; on the lower grounds ash, birch, maple, elm, pine and hemlock, &c. It is also sufficiently watered by springs and brooks. New Rochelle furnishes an extensive list of minerals. Among the most important may be mentioned quartZ; drusy, calcedony, agate, jasper, serpentine of almost every variety, and chromate of iron. Hydrate of magnesia and carbonate of magnesia, compact and crystalline, are also found here, according to Mr.