David Brown.

Oct. 23d.

David Brown, of Harrison, near Rye; Benjamin Stevenson commanded a company of Rangers. One night they heard a large party cross the bridge at Rye and concluded they were Refugees and would probably advance up the road leading to Purchase Street, crossed the fields and ambushed themselves near David Brown's (my father), concealing themselves behind a large rock east of the road. They were fifteen or twenty in number. When the Refugee horse got on a range with the side of the rock they fired, killed the Commander, Jotham Purdy, who fell pierced by several balls and buckshot in the body [in the head and breast?]. Another had his horse killed. Another Refugee was wounded, and several horses, one of which ran a quarter of a mile and then dropped dead. Purdy's party halted, and after swearing and ascertaining their loss - finding they could not surprise [Thomas], and being disheartened, they wheeled about and

David Brown cont'd.

returned. The Refugee party with Purdy had intended to strike at Col. Thomas's. I never heard of DeLancey being out except in the Croton attack. The Refugees went up to take revenge. Totten had been taken by Colonel Green's command and placed under the guard of negroes (Rhode Island regiment of blacks?). He conceived himself ill treated and vowed revenge. Told Green, if he should ever be in his power, he would not spare him

Octv. 24. Green's door forced in by throwing large stones. [Flagg] fired his pistol in bed, and was instantly killed. [marg: * It was not Flagg who fired, but a young lieutenant, whose name is not given in any of the accounts of this affair_ Flagg was a Major. J.E.] Green, a strong man, used his sword and struck at Totten, and would have killed him but the blow was parried by one, and another shot him (Green) in the side.