He said the key of the ammunition magazine was lost and he couldn't get powder &c. A song in ridicule was written. These are two lines: "'Do you See' [X] has lost his key, And sav'd both stores and men!" &c. General Waterbury didnt come (command) in the line till towards the end of the war. His Head Quarters were here at my father's house. Once he was informed that the Refugees were coming up to surprise him when he retreated to an island in a swamp near here. This was while they were building Fort Nonsense. Toward the end of the war a scout of Waterbury's went down to Morrisania and took some cattle and prisoners. (?) They were pursued to Hogpenridge and forced
[X] A favorite phrase with Gen. Waterbury
- Hufeland Index Page 945 -
to abandon the cattle. They then took to the woods. Refugees surrounded the wood which was a small one, and then offered quarters which were accepted. Lieut. Smith, I believe, commanded the American party The Refugees were double manned a foot man behind a horseman. After surrender many of the Americans were wounded with their own weapons. Serjeant Whiting of Waterbury's was killed. He was a brave soldier and putting up a fence which had been let down to drive the cattle through when he was killed by a musket ball shot. Lieut. Josiah Smith was wounded on the hand. A Refugee presented his gun at his breast which he put aside with his hand at the muzzle. It was discharged and shot his thumb off. Ensign Joseph Cutler (afterwards of Tarrytown) was wounded in the leg, and Quarter master Campbell was wounded in the knee. The scout consisted of about twenty, and every one was wounded except Whiting who was