Home / Dawson, Henry B. Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution. Morrisania, NY: (privately printed by the author), 1886. / Passage

Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution

Dawson, Henry B. Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution. Morrisania, NY: (privately printed by the author), 1886. 314 words

The despatch of Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth, No. 22, "On Board the ship "Dutchess of Gordon New York Harbour 6 th Dec* 1 1775," described the raid on Westchester-county as well as that on the City of New York, and narrated the blustering threats which were made by Sears, to return with "a more numerous body of the Connecticut Rioters and to take "away the Records of the Colony." The letter of (He Provincial Congress to the Governor of Connecticut, "In Provincial Congress, New- York, "12th Deer., 1775," recited the outrage in Westchester-county as well as that in the City ; but in such delicate terms as indicated that that body was either in sympathy with the banditti or was intimidated by t hose who were so. Judge Jones, in his History of New York during the Revolutionary War, (i., 65-68,) noticed the entire raid,' saying that Sears "en- " tered the town at the head of about 200 men, well mounted," which, from the context, evidently included those who had gone out to meet the banditti. Gordon, {History oftlte American Revolution, London': 1788, ii., 121, 122.) made mention of nothing else than of the' robbery of the printing-office, of which he said, '* While thus employed, peopfe col- " lected, and the street was thronged. To prevent interruption, he called 1 "out and told them that if they attempted to oppose him, he would "order his men to fire on them; and preparation was made for doing it, " in case it should be needful. This appearance instantly cleared the " street, when Captain Sears and his party rode off in triumph, with the " booty they were pleased to take away." Dunlap, (History of New York, ii., Appendix, ccxx,) erroneously stated that the destruction of the printing-office was effected "by the Connecticut Light Horse," on the fourth of December.