At the age of twenty John Dean served as private in Colonel Holmes's regiment in the Montgomery campaign against Canada; he was next on Long Island under Colonel Putnam, and was at the battle of White Plains; promoted to sergeant, he served (1777-79) in the company of Westchester County Rangers commanded by his uncle, Captain Gilbert Dean.1 He was quartermaster of Colonel Graham's regiment (during 1778), ami was in Youngs's house at the time of its attack by Major Bearmore on

UNDERHILL

HOUSE,

WHERE

ANDRE

TOOK

BREAKFAST.

Christmas Eve, 177S. In the following year he acted as guide on the lines in the troop of picked horsemen under Aaron Burr, served with the hitter's successor, Major I hill, and was with him at the time of his defeat by Colonel Tarleton in June. 177i>. In 1780 he continued in the militia service, was in the " Youngs's House Affair," and was next attached to Colonel Jameson's regiment, acting as guide. In 'Captain Gilbert ized in 1777. 1.

Dean's

Rangers

were

oreing officially a company of gar Col one! :Drake's re giment, then stationed near \VI ite P <'a] .tain liean was a son-in-law of Colon lains. el I fake. ami had proved himself a lant

i

tnd energ< •tic officer at the battle of gal and mi other occasions. Wli ite I 'lains His con lpany of Rang! ■i's was placed " under the inn uedia te comma ind of the committee of

safety." In a short time Dean was at the bend of a picked troop of horse which included the best of the local militia, and for his subordinates were several of the famous " guides " of the Neutral Ground. As a test of the character of the troops, it may be uoted that the company was retained intact through three enlistments (1777-78).