Subsequently, during the military administration of the noted and notorious General Charles Lee in Xew York City, most of the heavy cannon in Fort George and upon the Battery were, in anticipation of the capture of the place by the British, removed to Kingsbridge. These were about two hundred altogether, mostly excellent pieces of artillery. The reply of General Lee to the persons charged with transporting them to Kingsbridge, who complained to him that they could not ixot sufficient horses for the work, is somewhat celebrated. "Chain twenty damned Tories to each gun," said he, " and let them draw them out and be cursed. It is a proper employment for such villains, and a punishment they deserve for their eternal loyalty they so much boast of." General Charles Lee, at the time second in command of the contiidge

1 This locality should nol be . nfounded with the eminence <>f the same nam in the present City of Yonkers. The Valentine Hill at Kingsis loeatec 1. ..ii ..1.1 maps, hard by tin Valentine bri iere Saint Jos :'s ITill in Yonkers is the spo dge. eph's Seminary now stands. wl: br

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

nental army, was dispatched by Washington to New York in the latter part of January, 177G, with instructions to put the place " in the best posture of defense the season and circumstances will admit of." In his march through Westchester County he caused numerous dwellings to bo entered and searched for arms, which ho appropriated and bore away with him for the good of the cause. Dawson pathetically observes that this was indeed a heavy and melancholy visitation of fate upon the wretched farmers of the Boston Post Road, who thus, only a few weeks after being pillaged by the cowardly banditti from Connecticut, were forced to submit to a similar diabolical outrage by an infamous military despot.