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October 27th James Hopkins of Round hill aged 83: "The first time that the British regulars came up to North Castle was in the month of May or June. We were hoeing corn the first time. Their force was four or five hundred horse, and about the same number of foot commanded by a general officer who remained at Clapp's in King Street to support the horses. They were Hessians, British and Refugees. The horse came up to the hill east north east of Smith's Tavern where about twenty militia were posted. I don't know who commanded them. It might have been Lieutenant Moses or Lieutenant Wright Carpenter who were with them. Captain Benone Platt was not there. [margin: W. Carpenter?] had a Black servant, named [margin: (See Orig. middle of page 38.)]

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Aaron (a military man, a slave, who would turn out with the militia, and his master, Gilbert Palmer, a whig, in consequence gave him his freedom) and a fine horse called Prince. When the attack was about to commence Carpenter told Aaron: "Now when we begin to run do you mount my horse and secure him." Accordingly very soon the militia began to retreat, and Aaron ran for the horse which had escaped from his fastening but he secured, mounted him, and escaped by riding down a precipice among rocks where his pursuers (some British dragoons) were not able to follow him. James Miller was the only American [grave] killed, one militia man was taken and a number of the inhabitants. This happened before Pound-ridge was taken by [Tolbert?]. They must have come up for cattle and prisoners. When they [margin: [See Orig. lower part of page 38] There is an error in the original with an "m" to "numbers."]