I told them of two, viz: Sergeant Hilliard and James Travis, who were to be found on the route we should take to West Farms, but added that Hilliard must be surprised before he got on horseback, for if once in his saddle they would never overtake him. They were very anxious to capture Hilliard and his horse, and asked and obtained permission for the attempt from the French and American generals. We all immediately mounted and rode at full speed - I going ahead to shew the house where Hilliard lived part of the time when off duty. Notwithstanding all our circumspection and speed Hilliard mounted just as we approached his house and Travis also. Instant chase was made and Travis was soon taken, but as I had predicted they could not come near Hilliard although they pursued as long as they could see him across the fields of Fordham [page break] 1027 171 [margin: PARIS] and into Morrisania for a distance of two or three miles, where there were no inclosures to interrupt the race, the fences having been all previously destroyed. We then regained the road to West Farms and joined the Generals and their staff's who had come up. As we approached we passed on our right (that is on the South) a low old building which was for sometime occupied by Bearmore as his Headquarters. We had previously passed Emery's lane which led down for about three quarters of a mile (between Fordham depot and West Farms) to Emery's farm house, and which lane was then used as a public road towards Redoubt No. 8. We followed the Fordham road leading to Delancey's Mills which at that time crossed the ground where the Boston Post road now is, at right angles, and then ran directly down to the Bronx, passing the spot where the old yellow tavern now stands [page break] 172 1028 [margin: PARIS] After crossing to the river, the old road passed the bridge which stood where the present stone bridge stands, and running directly along the banks of the Bronx passed the site of the old Block House some distance to the right or west, which before its destruction stood upon a ledge of rocks in front of Mapes's Temperance house or store. (?) These rocks at that time covered all the ground where the houses and streets now are west of the Bronx.