Home / Bolton, Robert Jr. The History of the Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, from its First Settlement to the Present Time, Vol. II. New York: Charles F. Roper, 1881. / Passage

The History of the Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, Vol. II (1881 revised ed.)

Bolton, Robert Jr. The History of the Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, from its First Settlement to the Present Time, Vol. II. New York: Charles F. Roper, 1881. 321 words

Tarleton, widi the whole of the cavalry, was to proceed to covt-r the right, and arrive at Valentine's hill by daylight ; a detachment of Yagers, under Capt. Wreden, were to march on Cortland's ridge, and to halt opposite to Gist's encampment; and a larger detachment of Yagers, under Major Pruschank, were, at the same time, to be ready to force Philiy.se's bridge, then to proceed to the bridge opposite Babcock's house, and to cut off the enemy's retreat by that road. The signal for tiiese divisions moving on, was to be the noise of storming Gist's encampment. Lieut. Col. Emmerich conducted the march in so able a manner, and tiie whole corps followed with so much silence, that the enem)^s sentinels were passed without alarm, and this division gained the heights in the rear, and could see the whole chain of sentinels walking below them. Major Ross was detached to possess himself of Post's house, to preserve a communication with Lieut. Col. Tarleton on Valentine's hill; the remainder of the Rangers inclined to the right, towards Gist's camp, and Lieut. Col. Emmerick was directed to secure the Saw Mill road. Firing soon began ; and it was apparent from Lieut. Col. Emmerick's quarter, whom the enemy had discovered. Lieut. Col. Simcoe immediately moved rapidly into the road, and directly up the steeps to the enem/s camp, as a nearer way than through the thickets; he attained it, and, to his great surprise, found that Major Pruschank had not forced Philips' Bridge, as had been intended, but had crossed and joined Capt. Weeden en Cortlandt's ridge ; ?..nd that Col. Gist had escaped through the passage which had been so unaccountably left open. Lieut. CoL Tarleton fell in with a patrol of cavalry, and dispersed it; and tlie Queen's Rangers, as soon as they got possession of Gist's camp, having ambuscaded themselves,took a patrol which came forward on hearing, the firing.