The proposed victims having heen disarmed, by order of the Provincial Congress, during the Winter of 1775-'f>, they had no means for their defense, and, therefore, they fled and hid themselves in swamps, in woods, in barns, in hollow trees, in corn-fields, and in the mai-shes. Numbere took refuge in tlie pine barrens of Suffolk-county ; others, in small boats, kept sailing about the Sound, landing in the night and sleeping in the woo<ls, and taking to the water again in the morning. They were pursued like wolves and bears, from swamp to swamp, from one hill to another, from dale to dale, and from one copse of wood to another. Numbers were taken ; some were wounded ; and a few were killed -- all that, too, on a peaceful, unarmed, passive conmiunity ; unable to dcfitad itself, because it had been stripped of its arms ; in advance of any adverse movement : and only to promote the individual purposes of a handful of ambitious and reckless men : all that, too, in the name of " Liberty " and the " Rights of JIan." (Jminmlnf the Provincial Conijreft.
"Sunday afternoon, June .■$(), 177C Cenenil Wnnhimjlon to the I'lesidenl of Cniit/rptui, " New York, ,Iune 28, 1776 ; " " Jones's Hiatory of New York (luring the Iteonhitionary W(ir. i., 108, 1(19.)
■ Journal of the Provincinl Congress, "De Lunne, 9 ho., A.M., May 27, " 177(> ; " the tame, " Tuesday morning. New York, June 11, 1776 ; " etc.