October 31st Peekskill - James Mandeville: "When the British took Peekskill on the 23d of March, 1777, they landed at Ver Plank's Point (at Lent's Cove) on the high ground a little way west of the Post Road, about one and a half or two miles from Peekskill, then marched up, crossed the bridge which then connected Ver Plank's Point over the salt creek (Quere - McGregory?) with Ryke's Patent, advanced and drew up on Drum Hill or Kronkhite's hill, so called from Captain James Kronkhite of the militia who lived on the west side of it, near the foot of it, and contiguous to the Post Road. The Continental Stores were deposited in some buildings which stood in the present village, and were about a quarter of a mile from the nearest part of Drum Hill. The position which McDougal took and where he waited for the enemy's

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advance to ascertain their strength. It must have been a commanding hill opposite to and east of Travis's hill. This position so taken was on the east side of the Post Road, just out of the village on the way to General Van Courtlandt, and approached close to and commanded the said Road. Here the British artillery on Drum Hill cannonaded, and one of their balls striking a stone in the road, it flew into splinters, one of which struck a soldier of McDougall's and killed him, though standing some distance (a hundred yards) off. McDougall then retired to Barrack No 2, about two and half miles from the town, beyond General Van Courtland's house - such barrack being on Gallows Hill. (?) The mills contained Continental grain and flour, and secured by McDougall, &c.