Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III

Attacked, on every side, by a foe whose movements could never be tiaceil or seen, & reduced to the resources of his own mind to extricate himself from a hazardous situation, where he could neither remain with safety, nor retire with honour, Moore displayed a prudent intrepedity which compensated for the inexperience of his men, & the novel difficulties of a savage mode of war. His fears were not without foundation, nor his precautions without effect: for he heard the well-known shell sounding in his rear, far back in the woods, & with timely speed he retreated by another pass, found means to alarm the troops he had left in the vale, & as morning broke, the slaves found themselves swrrounded, cut off from the dark recesses of their forests, & surprised in an open country.

With desperate fury they fought to the last; some were, however, taken prisoners, & were executed with a degree of solemnity which might strike, it was hoped, a seasonable terror into the breasts of those who yet remained in arms. The records of crime & punishment can hardly equal, or excuse, the horrible barbarities & exquisite tortures which were inflicted by, & upon, these condemned rebels.-- Many of their countrymen were, however, still left to revenge their death, and, with their women & children, resolved rather to die by their own hands than to yield to the fate they had now cause to apprehend. But a milder sentiment, urged by the authority of the leaders, or enforced, perhaps, by the neighborhood of Maroons, at length prevailed; &. a suppliant crowd repaired to the Governor's quarters, to learn their fate from the mouth of their Conqueror.

They implored, & experienced, (he clemency they had so little reason to expect: peace was grrinted to them; & they were soon convinced, by the liberal distribution of reward & piinishment, that the friendship of their masters was preferable to their enmity.