The expedition seems to have been planned by his guide, ^lichael Dyckman, who had ascertained by close observation that the British sentinels were not in the habit of changing their countersign; the next step was to capture one of the refugees themselves, from whom he obtained the co,untersign. By this means, so sudden and complete was the surprisal of the enemy on the occasion, that over forty of them were either killed or made prisoners. It was the intention to capture De Lancey, but he was absent from his quarters. The cantonment liad scarcely been turned, when a large party of Yaouger horse collected and pursued Captain Cushing; but lie eftected

5 26 HISTORY OF THi: COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

his retreat with so much skill and gallantry, though charged ref)eatc',!'.v by the enemy, that no injury was sustained. The enemy were !ar advanced up the Saw Mill valley, ere they relinquished the pursuit. 0:i this occasion Abraham Dyckman arrested Captain Ogden in Coloml Emmerick's quarter's (the house noAV standing at the foot of the steep hill, on the road leading from Fordham to Kings Bridge, close by v/hat is knowTi as Farmer's Bridge, was the scene of the exploit) at the moment when a British sentinel was pacing the bridge within musket shot.

"On the 19th of Januar}', 17S1, (says General Heath,) 150 men from the Connecticut line and 200 from the New Hampshire line were to move towards the lines; these, with those who marched from Hazen's the day before, were to form a covering party to the detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Hull, who was to make an attempt on De Lancey's corps."'^