I.auzun, aud the other Generals of the combined army, while they passed through the lields of Jlorrisania, Fordham and Yonkers, halting from time to time as they moved along for the purpose of enabling the engineers to examine the grounds along llaerlem river and Spuytenduyvil creek. He used to relate tliat will n the allies, marching from the <\ist near the Bronx and passing over the hi'jU grounds around Morris.iPiiab.ousc came in sight of the enemy, the fire \\ Iiieh tlie British artillerj' opened upou them from the fortifications at Randall's Island

534 HISTORV OF THE COUNT*' OF WESTCHESTER.

and Snake-hill, -- from the batteries at Harlem and from the ships of war at anchor la the river, was terrible and incessant ; and obeying the instinct of solf-pn-. scrvation, which became suddenly predominant -- he urged his horse fowurd :i: full speed and rode for safety behind tlie old Morrisania mill. Here he puiltj vp, and looking back, saw Washington, Kochambeau, and the other officers ridin:; along calmly under the fire as though nothing unusual had occurred. Ills selfposession now returned ; and, ashamed at having given way to an impulse of fear, he at once pricked back with all the rapidity to which he could urge his hnnif, and resumed liis place in the order of march ; while the commanding officers, with good natured peals of laughter, welcomed him back and commended his courage.

Mr. Corsa knew personally every individual of that celebrated band of volunteers called the "Westchester Guides," of whom he himself was the last and youngest ; and he was among the most confidential friends of the heroic Abrahnm D^'ckman, who fell prematurely at the close of the revolutionaiy contest. Pussessed of a memory unusually retentive, and residing constantly upon the borders of tlie "neutral ground," he was acquainted with all the distinguished partisius both from above and below, and with nearly all the military operations wlietiier great or small that occurred along this portion of the British lines; and which, until %"t-ithin the last few days of his life, he continued to describe in minute detail.