He had practiced the greatest vigilance in guarding this ford in the night time, taking off the guards after sunrise, apprehending that the enemy would never presume to cross the river in the day time ; but the enemy, having learnt his mode of doing duty, on tlie morning of the 13th effected his overthrow, by crossing the ford soon after the guards had come off, and surrounding tlicir quarters before they had an idea of any enemy being near them. In this situation, the utmost exertion could not then avail them.'"&

A person named Gilbert Totten, is said to have betrayed his countr)'- men to Col. Peter de Lancey, on this occasion, in retaliation for an act of discipline administered under the following circumstances : -- It appears Totten had been for some time mustered into the English service, holda '\'\\\i <ii.'ii!itiiro llo^lh!I!■^3 sprveil ii-^ a nasspurt t.i Ucurer. CopicJ from original lioculuent lu ixjHsossi'jiiof tlic ia'e Jolm V.'.ird, of Ilipn^l srrci,'i, X. V.

b Ilcatli'.s Mem. 2SS-- 9.

THE TOWN OF YORKTOWN. 679

ing a captain's commission, and liadjust been arrested by Col. Dunmore (who commanded a regiment of colored soldiers stationed near Pines Bridge, about hilf a mile north-east of the pickets on Crow Hill) for coming up with a flag, under peculiar circumstances, and a black soldier placed over him as guard. Upon his discharge, shortly after, he swore vengeance, " declaring that the next flag sent up vrould be a red one."'* "When Totten was up at Pines Bridge, in the spring of 1781, and insulted, the officer of the guard said to him on parting: "A\Tien will you be up again with a flag, (or another one be sent ?') To which he replied: "The next flag that comes up '■^zcill be a bloody oneP With these ominous words he departed.