He had practiced the greatest vigilance in guarding this ford in the night time, taking off the guards after sunrise, apprehendmg that the enemy would never presume to cross the river in the day lime ; but the enemy, having learnt his mode of doing duly, on the morning of the 13th effected his overthrow, by crossing the ford soon after the guards had come off, and surrounding their quarters before they had an idea ot any enemy being near them. In this situation, the utmost exertion could not then avail lhein.''b

A person named Gilbert Totten, is said to have betrayed his countrymen to Colonel de Lancey on this fatal occasion, in retaliation for an act of discipline administered by his commanding

sideut of Yorktown. The following notice of the death of Moses Field, (son of John) occurs in the New York American of Oct. 25, 1833 : " Died at Peekskill, on the 18th inst., Moses Field of this city, aged .53 years. The poor cnuld not have sustained a greater loss in an individual. No man had more enlarged and persevering benevolence in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and providing for the sick. His greatest happiness appeared to be, lo mitigate the suffering and relieve the wants of the virtuous poor."

» See vol. i. 210.

k Heath's Mem., 2S8-!>.

392 HISIOUV OF THE

officer. De Lancey anxious for an oppoitnnity to return llie recent attack made upon his quarters by Captain Gushing,'^ instantly fitted out a force of about 150 dragoons, as described by Heatli. The route selected by their experienced commander, was the road leading to White Plains, by which means the party escaped tlirough the only opening in the long line of sentinels stretched across the country. Near Chappequa, they halted for a short time at the house of Daniel Underbill, and then proceeded by the west road, which is an intersection of the present Sing Sing turnpike, till they arrived at the residence of Mr.