Tarleton were making some examinations of the country, the Mahicans formed an ambuscade for their capture, and very nearly succeeded in their purpose, the party escaping by chang Their most distinguished service, however, ing their route.
was performed in August. While on a scouting expedition on the thirtieth, Lieutenant Colonel Emerick met a body of them under Nimham, the king of the Wappingers, and in the engage*
Sfarks y vn, 547.
Simcoe's Military Journal.
OF HUDSON'S R17ER.
ment which followed was compelled to retreat.
On the follow
ing morning the whole of the British force at Kingsbridge was ordered out and the largest portion placed in an ambuscade,
while Emerick was sent forward to decoy his assailants of the
The plan failed, but an engagement was brought on, by Emerick's corps, on what is now known as Cortland's ridge, in the present town of Yonkers, which was one of the most previous day.
severe of the war.
The Indians made the attack from behind
the fences, and in their first fire wounded five of their enemies, including Simcoe. Falling back among the rocks they defied for a time the efforts to dislodge them. Emerick offered them
peace and protection
they would surrender ;
if
four of their
number accepted the terms only to be hewn in pieces as soon as they reached his lines. The engagement was renewed Emerick charged the ridge with cavalry in overwhelming force, but was stoutly resisted. As the cavalry rode them down, the Indians seized the legs of their foes and dragged them from their saddles to join them in death. All hope of successful resistance gone, Ntmham commanded his followers to fly, but ;