The day previous, however, Luther Kinnicut, a spy in the employ of the committee of public safety, gave notice of the intended attack, and advised the major to be on his guard. The night being very dark and stormy. Colonel Sheldon did not expect the enemy ; he nevertheless ordered the horses to be tied up in readiness.

» The descendants of this individual still reside in the vicinity. t> The British " would not suffer the family to take any thing away." See New York Journal, for Holts account of the action.

* Heath's Mem. 208. ' '

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 13

To General Heath's account of the action, we append the report of Lt. Col. Tarleton to Sir Henry Clinton.

Dated, Camp on the Bronx, July 2, 1779, eleven P. M.

Sir : --

T have the honor to inform your excellency, that I moved with the detachment you were pleased to entrust me with, consisting of seventy of the I7th light dragoons, part of the legion infantry and cavalry, Queen's rangers, Hussars and some mounted yagers, in all about two hundred, at half past 11 o'clock last night. The weather being remarkably bad, prevented my making North Castle church before 4 o'clock next morning, where I received confirmation of my intelligence relative to the numbers and situation of Sheldon's regiment and one hundred Continental foot, but no tidings of Moyland^s regiment of dragoons. I pursued my route through Bedford to Foundridge, without any material occurrence, in the district of the ridge, and within ihree hundred yards of the enemy, who were not alarmed. My guide in front, mistook the road ; another guide informed me of the error, and it was rectified as soon as possible." The enemy's videlte had noticed our passing their front. The whole regiment was mounted and formed behind the meeting house.