Interview with Dibble, John
122 43 Novr 3d John Dibble: "I was at the attack of Ward's house by Major Campbell. The same day we went down to William's Bridge on a scout to cover a foraging party of five or six teams which went down to Morrisania to take off forage. The British came from Kingsbridge to oppose us and we fought them across the river all day long till the teams returned. We were about eighty strong. About forty went down with the teams, and forty remained at the bridge. The British were about fifty strong at the bridge where they had a fort. It was night before we got back to Wards. Samuel Delavan [was a Capt & appointed to command] commanded us, and he was saved that night in consequence of wearing a red coat passing for a British offi- -cer. The British approached Ward's house from the west side of the road. A sentinel was posted north or perhaps in the road who challenged and the British then ran up. Capt. Noah Bouton came to the door and asked for quarter, saying they would then surrender,
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123. 13 but Major Campbell said: "Fire away, boys! - Kill all the d----d Rebels you can!" Bouton then fired with his musket and shot Campbell through the body dead. There were about two hundred Americans in the house, and they all escaped but twenty seven who were taken prisoners and six who were killed. The British had eight killed. I ran out of the house north, and found a company advancing which I joined and with them advanced to the house where the British when the British were firing into the windows. We took post behind a stone wall and attacked them, but they out numbered and outflanked us, and compelled us to retreat.