The following extract, from a letter dated Peekskill, Januar}- 19th, 1777, shows the savage nature which marked the British soldiery during their occupancy of Morrisania, in breaking open vaults and plundering the dead : --

"General Howe has discharged all the privates who were prisoners iu New York. One-half he sent lothe world of spirits for want of food-- the other he hath sent to warn their countrymen of the danger of falling into hi.-^ hands ; and to convince them by ocular demonstration, that it is infinitely better to be slain in battle, than to be talcen prisoners by British brutes whose tender mercies are cruelty. But it is not tlie prisoners alone who felt the effects of British humanitj- ; every part of the country through which they have niarclicd, has been plundered and ravaged. No discrimination has been made with respect to Whig or Tor}-, but all alike have been involved in one common fate. Their march thro' New Jersey his been marked with savage barbarity ; but Westchester witnesseth more terrible things. The repositories of the dead have always been held sacred, by the most barbarous and savage nations. But here, not being able to accomplish their accurseil purposes upon the living, tln-y wreaked their vengence upon the dead. In many places, the gr;ives in the church-yards were opened; and the bodies of the dead exposed upon the ground for several days. At Morrimnia, Vie fainili/ vault ic^is opened, the oijjins broken, and the bones scattered abroad. At De'.ancfij'i farm, the body of a beautiful young lady, which had been buried for two ye;irs. was taken out oi the groiuul ami ex'posi-d f>ir five daj'S ia u most indecent manner ; many more insumccs could be mentioned, but