Le Marquis de la Rouerie was then very young: his subsequent conduct has proved that nature, in giving him a susceptible and impassioned mind, has not made him a present likely to be always fatal to him : glory and honor have employed all its activity ; and it is an observation which merits to be consigned in history, as well as in this journal, that carrying with him, as he did to America, all the heroic courage and romantic notions of chivalry of the ancient French noblesse, he could so well conform to republican manners, that, far from availing himself of his birth, he would only make himself known by bis Christian name. Hence he was always called Colonel Armand. He commanded a legion which was destroyed in Carolina, at the battle of Camden, and in the remainder of that unfortunate campaign. In 1781 he went to France, purchased everything necessary for arming and equipping a new legion, and on hia
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 279
1779, (says General Heath,) at night, Colonel Armand proceeded with his corps from near Tarrytown to the vicinity of Morrisania, to the house of Alderman Leggett, where he surprised and took Major Bearmore and five others prisoners. Tiie secresy, precaution, gallantry and discipline exhibited by the colonel and his corps on this occasion did them much honor. In the capture of Major Bearmore, the inhabitants of the adjacent country were relieved from the frequent excursions of a troublesome officer."* The destruction of the old house took place under the following circumstances. Col. Fowler, of the British army, who had dispossessed the Graham family, and made it his own quarters, invited all the officers and gentry in the neighborhood to dine with him, preparatory to his change of quarters. The company were assembled, and all seemed gay and happy.