The Major and his men entered house after house, as they went down the roadways leading through the Village ; carrying from each, such articles as pleased their cupidity ; ' hastening the occupants from the houses, without suffering them to dress the children, where there were children, " but drove them out of " doors, naked ;" 2 carrying the sick and helpless, outdoors, on their beds, and leaving them exposed to the rigors of that November night; 3 insulting the females, 4 with ill language and threats, in the presence oftheMajor; and, then, setting fire to the houses. 6 The Court-house, the Meeting-house of the Presbyterian - church, and the greater number of the dwellings, including that of Doctor Graham, 6 together with all, of furniture and provisions and clothing, which the rapacious enemy had spared for the use and support and protection of the helpless inhabitants, unless such portions of each, which the new-comers had taken away, to the Major's marquee or elsewhere, were thus wantonly and criminally destroyed. 7

That great outrage, inflicted on the inhabitants of Westchester-county, called forth the denunciations of the Commander-in-chief, in the General Orders of the Army, 8 and those of the Committee of Safety of the State ; 9 the leader of the band of ruffians who

1 "When she went out of the house, some of the men began to carry " things out of the house ; when she asked them why they took those "things. Then Major Austin spake; and told her he should carry "them to the General's; and alleged General Sullivan's orders for it." --(Mrs. Adams' '« testimony, before the Court-martial for the trial of Major Austin, " Philipsburg, November 12, 1776.")