Home / Bolton, Robert Jr. A History of the County of Westchester, from its First Settlement to the Present Time, Vol. II. New York: Alexander S. Gould, 1848. / Passage

A History of the County of Westchester, Vol. II

Bolton, Robert Jr. A History of the County of Westchester, from its First Settlement to the Present Time, Vol. II. New York: Alexander S. Gould, 1848. 314 words

Among the most daring were the guides -- such men as Abraham Dijckman, Cornelius Oakley and John Odell. In the darkness of night they have often surprised and carried off captains, officers and men, under the guns of the British forts at Morrisania, or in small parties amused Itiemselves by beating up De Lancey's quarters. Frequent alarms had made them watchful of surprise and success rendered them reckless of danger, till they became the chosen leaders of each dangerous enterprise against the enemy."

The following additional particulars respecting the engagement on Chatterton's hill are contaitied in General Heath's Memoirs.

27th of October, " In the forenoon, a heavy cannonade was heard towards Fort Washington. Tiiirteen Hessians and two or three British soldiers were sent in on this day. From the American camp to the west, south-west, there appeared to be a very commanding, height, worthy of attention. The Commander-in-Chief ordered the general officers who were off duty, to attend him to reconnoitre this ground, on this morning. When arrived at the ground, although very commanding, it did not appear so much so, as other grounds to

« At the east end of the village is still to be seen the remains of Washington's encampment. Of this nothing is left but a small portion of the embankment that runs partly across the street, on the surface of which rests a mutilated howitzer. Tliis relic of the past was disinterred near the spot it occupies.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 373

the north, and almost parallel with the left of the army, as it was then formed. " Yonder," says Major Gen. Lee, pointing to the grounds just mentioned, "is the ground we ought to occupy." " Let us then go and view it," replied the Commander-in-Chief. When on the way, a light horseman came up on full gallop, his horse almost out of hreath, and addressed Gen.