It is curious that the responsibility for Tarleton's deed was by manv of the Bedford people charged to Colonel James Holmes, their 1 Bolton (rev. ed., ii., 115) relates the follow- which hit his cap and perforated the scalp on who the side of his head without further injury, "John Buckhout, ing amusing incident: happened to be in the rear of Sheldon's regi- ' There.' says the dragoon. ' you damned rebel, ment during the retreat, and closely pursued, a little more and I should have blown your you,' replied John, was accosted in the imperative tone of a Brit- brains out.' ' Yes, damn 'Surrender, you damn rebel, or 'and a little more you wouldn't have touched ish dragoon: continued his speed, and escaped I'll blow your brains out!' John, not heeding me.' John with a pistol shot, without further injury." saluted was the threat,

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

recreant townsman. Holmes was descended from one of the original Bedford proprietors, and the family had always been a prominent one in the town. He served in the French and Indian War, and, as related in a previous chapter, was an active patriot partisan at the beginning of hostilities between America and Great Britain, being a member of the New York provincial convention, one of the committee which made the first inspection of the heights at Kingsbridge with a view to their fortification, and colonel of one of the first four regiments raised in the Province of New York. But on account of private grievances he resigned his commission in 1777 and retired to his farm at Bedford. Here he soon became known as one of the disaffected, and in 1778, at the instance of some of his neighbors, he was arrested by the committee of safety. Escaping from custody, he joined the British in New York.