8 " The people who remained in that part of the country," [ Westchester-cotwty,) " through which they pass'd, have been most cruelly plun " dered ; many helpless women had even their shifts taken from their " backs by the soldiers' wives, after the great plunderers had done ; and, " in this general ravage, no discrimination was made of Whig or Tory." (Letter from Stamford, dated "12th Nov. 1776," published in The Freeman's Journal, or New-Hampshire Gazette, Vol. I., No. 28, Portsmouth, Tuesday, December 3, 1776.)

[Galloway's] Reply to the Observations of Lieut. Gen. Sir William Howe on a pamphlet entitled Letters to a Nobleman, 17, 18.

On the general subject, see, also, General McDougal to Colonel De WUt, "White-Plains, 7 November, 1776;" Letter to a Gentleman in Virginia, " Head-quarters, White-Plains, November 8, 1776," published in Force's American Archives, V., iii.,603; The Committee of Safety to the President of the Congress, " In Committee ' of Safety for the " State of New-York, Fishkill, November 20, 1776 ; " etc.

>° Vide pages 239, 240, ante.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

been issued, without having checked the career of robbery. General Washington was constrained to issue another, in these words, sufficiently illustrative of the practices and of his views concerning them : " It is with astonishment the General hears that some " Officers have taken Horses, between the enemy's "Camp and ours, and sent them into the country, for "their private use. Can it be possible that persons bearing Commissions and fighting in such " a cause, can degrade themselves into plunderers of " Horses ? He hopes every Officer will set his face "against it, in future; and does insist that the " Colonels and commanding Officers of Regiments im- " mediately inquire into the matter, and report to him " who have been guilty of these practices ; and that " they take an account of the Horses in their re- " spective encampments ; and send to the Quarter- " master-general all that are not in some public " service." *