Howe, being informed of the existence of large depots of stores at and near Peekskill, decided to destroy them, and on the 23d of March, the river having become freed of ice, sent iip Colonel Bird for that purpose with 500 troops and four light of the expedition McDougall, beingfield-pieces. Before the arrival informed of its coming, removed a portion of the stores to Ports Montgomery and Constitution. Bird landed his men and guns at Lent's Covej near Peekskill Village, whereupon McDougall, having at MARINCS

WILLET.

EVENTS OF 1777 AND

and storethe time only about 250 men with him, burnt the barracks houses at Peekskill and retired to the neighborhood of Continental Village in the mountain pass. The enemy did not think it wise to follow him to this point. McDougall was re-enforced soon afterward by a party from Fort Constitution under Lieutenant-Colonel Marinus Willet. The next day there was a lively encounter between Willet and the foe near the Van Cortlandt mansion,1 which resulted in the rout of the latter. According to Irving the British lost nine killed and four wounded before they were able to escape to their shipping. The chief deposits at Continental Village were not touched. Thus the first attempt on the American position about the Highlands, although made at a moment when our forces were ill prepared for it, and having in view only the destruction of stores, was a failure. In this same month of March, 1777, occurred the capture of the eminent Judge John Thomas, at his home in the " Rye Woods," by a British expeditionary force sent for that special purpose. Judge Thomas, one of the ablest, most zealous, and most influential patriots in Westchester County, had always been peculiarly obnoxious to the British, and a price had been placed upon his head.