Interview with Coutant, John
178 393 51. Widow Sutton near Le Fevre's (the wheelwright). Widow Toffey on the White Plains road. Widow Merritt, of Scarsdale, near Judge Brown's.
November 10. John Coutant, of New Rochelle. "The Skirmish between the Americans and Hessians in October 23^d and 24^th 1776 (?) was about a mile from here, near Mrs. Morell's house, in the fields, this side. The Hessians probably had been out towards East Chester plundering when they were attacked by the Americans who surrounded them. About eight wounded Hessians were brought in here. Great alarm in camp - Drums beat to arms. Wounded men were taken on board hospital ship in East river the next day by me and our team. While conducting them an alarm was made by an officer that the rebels were coming from Fort Washington and we were ordered to turn about. A false alarm - but we did turn about. When I shook the wounded in driving over the rough road they screamed, and the Hessian guards abused me. This was [page break] 394 181 in the forenoon about 7 or 8 o'clock. The British army all turned out, about the middle of the war an American Captain with a detachment of men were perceived by a body of British horse in East Chester near the church. The Americans took to the fields, and crossed through [New Rochelle?] a little west of me about half a mile. An =American, I think, was with the British party, but I don't know who command =ed the American party. The Americans crossed a swamp near the White Plains road and [New Rochelle?] passing over ground where cavalry could not act, and took the opportunity to make a general discharge. British attempted to charge repeatedly, but the American captain was so judicious that he brought his men safely off.