Home / Macdonald, John. Interview with Hall, Stephen, 1762-1848; (1845-11-05). John M. McDonald Interviews, 1844-1851, WCHS item 1265. Westchester County Historical Society. Transcribed by history.croton.news April 2026. / Passage

Interview with Hall, Stephen

Macdonald, John. Interview with Hall, Stephen, 1762-1848; (1845-11-05). John M. McDonald Interviews, 1844-1851, WCHS item 1265. Westchester County Historical Society. Transcribed by history.croton.news April 2026. 306 words

Lounsbury (4) was a bold, enterprising, determined. The party that was against him was commanded by Capt. (5) Daniel Townsend of New York (Rye Neck?) I think, and they meant to kill him, as I have always heard. They hunted him from his place of concealment among the rocks, and refused quarter as I have heard and believe (shooting and then bayonetting him). He and his men were furnished every day with provisions by his friends in Mamaroneck village. I was a school boy at the commence- ment of the war at Mamaroneck village. On Monday morning, October 21: 1776, on entering the school house I found Col. Rogers there, and our master told us there would be no school that day. Colonel Rogers was a very rough looking, red eyed man, and occupied the school house as his quarters. [page break] 398 189 quarters for some days afterwards. It stood on the west side of the Post road, opposite to the road leading to my house and DeLancey's Neck. Rogers's regiment, (the Queen's Rangers) was 300 or 400 strong, well armed, but not in uniform, and, when night came, bivouacked around fires, 100 or 200 yards back of DeLancey's house, in what used to be called Heathcote's heights or hill. Here they were surprised on Monday or Tuesday (21st or 22nd) by an American party, said to have been three times as numerous, that advanced across the fields by way of the Quaker or Quaker Meeting house. A sentinel was posted near the cross road to the Quaker Meeting house a little north of the road and close to [page break] 190 399 to the low ground about 300 yards west of the Post road. This sentinel was killed by the Americans whose guides were good and well acquainted with the grounds occupied by Rogers.