All but the leader were overtaken and cut to pieces without mercy. The extraordinary fleetness and power of endurance of Honham's horse were barely sufficient to save the rider's life - for Captain Kipp at one time came up with him and striking at the flying skinner wounded his horse. One of the first skinners overtaken was a young man who, after receiving a great many sword cuts, was left upon the ground for dead. He was, however, still alive,
- Hufeland Index Page 1051 -
and while the Refugees were in pursuit of Honham's party, crawled a short space and concealed himself behind the roots of a tree which had blown down; but, on their return, Kipp's men discovered the wounded skinner and literally cut him limb from limb. One young man they attempted to take below a prisoner, but when placed on horseback he fainted from loss of blood, having received many wounds. Supposing him dead, they left him behind telling Mr. Hart of Purdy's Lane to bury him; but the gentleman finding the prisoner still alive had him carefully nursed, called in surgical aid, (Dr. Thatcher?) and was at length gratified by his recovery. This young man and Honum were the only two who escaped. All the rest were killed outright. Richard Cornell, formerly of White Plains, was guide to the party that went down for the young man (when he had sufficiently recovered) and took him above. He was
- Hufeland Index Page 1052 -
from somewhere in Connecticut. - [Was this Captain Doolittle of Ridgefield? - See Note Book 1/84.] There was a frolic once during the Revolutionary war in [North Castle, proba- -bly, or somewhere near there] which was attended by a number of skinners, among other persons. Joseph Hubbs and Jem. Husted, two noted Refugees having heard of the frolic, lurked about the house, and communicating, probably, with some of the dancers, found out where the Skinners had stacked their muskets.