Jo tne lasi a . ^^ ^ bl.idge> ,,n tlu, promises of i„ a good state of preservation for its age, , ana Brainerd T. Harrington, grape-shot wore was still in use for grinding gram The old Mr Bu mu j_ b_ evidently wore mill," writes a venerable resident of the local- found as ^te^amissiles ■ M^ th< of some in sided "was historian, present itv to the lean artillery. and a man living here in 1S49

EVENTS

FROM

JULY

OCTOBER

12,

Iii a letter to General Washington, dated the 10th of October, its committee of safety urged him to take measures of his own for guarding against landings by the enemy at all points, adding that "no reliance at all can be placed on the militia of Westchester County.''1 But this was no exclusive reflection upon the soldierly qualities of the men of our county, the raw rural militia of all sections naturally receiving like criticism. In numerous communications written during those perilous days Washington wrote with agony of soul about the miserable subject of the militia. " The militia," he said in a letter to the president of the continental congress, " instead of calling forth their utmost efforts to a brave and manly opposition, in order to repair our losses, are dismayed, intractable, and impatient to return. Great numbers of them have gone off; in some instances almost by whole regiments, by half ones, ami by companies at a time." And in a letter to his brother he gave the following vivid account of the situation: "The dependence which the congress have placed upon the militia has already greatly injured and, 1 fear, will totally ruin our cause. Being subject to no control themselves, they introduce disorder among the troops whom we have attempted to discipline, while the change in their living brings on sickness, and this causes an impatience to get home, which spreads universally and introduces abominable desertions.