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. " When Totten v.-as insulted at Pines Bridge, just before the capture of Davenport's house, he said on parting, to the officer who commanded the guard, " When I come up again it will be with a red flag, and after that ?iiggers unll be scarce."^

True to his word, he went directly to Col. de Lancey's head-quarters at Morrisania and gave him the clue by which he might cross the Croton and surprise, not only Green, but the negro guard at Pines Bridge. Capt. Samuel Kipp (with Totten as guide)'' probably led the party, (which he was pleased to denominate Invincibles) over the ford, with the full determination neither to give or take quarter.

July 1867, the late Joshua Carpenter informed the author, "that his aunt Fanny Totten, told him that Gilbert Totten (her cousin) led de Lancey's party to Da\enport's house, and that the enemy came up (after crossing the Croton at OLlenus's ford) by way of the valley on the east side of Turkey Mountain, then a perfect wilderness, until they struck just west of the house ; when suddenly they wheeled and galloped up the hill, surprising the sentinel who fired and fled towards the house. The American soldiers were Ipng on the stoop when alarmed by the firing on the west side. Some managed to escape by jumping off the east end of the piazza, and making for the orchard in the rear.