A number of the young men of the neighborhood, who were convened there for amusement, found themselves suddenly surrounded in the midst of their merriment by a trooj) of light horsemen from the British lines.

Several of the party made their escape from the house through the rear windows and fled across the fields to the woods. The rest were captured and searched. As very little money was found upon them they were accused of having concealed it, and, as a

> TompkiDs' address at White Plains, October 28, 1845.

2 Coutant's " Beminiscences."

NEW ROCHELLE.

punishment, were lashed to the heels of the soldiers' horses and the animals spurred into violent action, so that the prisoners were dashed about at the peril of their limbs and lives. After this cruel treatment they were compelled to kneel down in the road and repeat after their brutal captors a profane burlesque on the Lord's Prayer. This ceremony ended, they were stripped of their coats, hats and shoes, and left to find their way home as best they could, or, if they preferred it, to return to their merriment in the tavern.

During the War of 1812 a panic took place among the militia who had been stationed upon Davenport's Neck as a guard against the possible landing of a force from the British men-of-war which were cruising in the Sound. It was a false alarm, but their fright was such that they fled in every direction, taking refuge in the neighboring woods and swamps, and some of them failing to report themselves until many hours had elapsed. This was not a victory to be proud of, nor even a masterly retreat, but when we recall the history in more modern times, of the battle of Bull Run, we will not be too hard on the heroes of Davenport's Neck.