- Hufeland Index Page 631 -
Novr. 10th. Matthew Mead: Tryon advanced upon Horseneck soon after sunrise in 1779, at least the horse (advanced party) did. The vanguard of horse was within half a mile of us, when the alarm gun (one of the old cannons) was fired, and the main body followed not long after. The main column advanced by the road and the flank parties through the fields. The Americans were about surrounded before they retreated. Part of them retreated south easterly, and about a quarter of a mile south east of the village were overtaken by the British horse. An American soldier retread for safety under an apple tree with low and long branches. A horseman followed him round the tree striking with his sword. At length the American shot him through the mouth, the ball passing probably through his head. This happened in what was commonly called the "horse-lot" owned
- Hufeland Index Page 632 -
at that time by Mr. Grigg. One side of the horse lot was then full of bushes and the other side was an orchard. The sold- -iers fled for safety through the orchard to the bushes which they all reached but this one. After he killed the trooper, he mounted his horse and rode off. I never heard whether or not this foot soldier was a Frenchman from Canada. The salt works must have been over towards Coscob. The British didn't retreat till afternoon, and were followed as far as Byram by the Americans. Putnam was with the pursuing party in the after- -noon, urging his men on, crying out - "Drive on, boys! - on, on!" Col. Holdredge commanded here at the time, I think. Captain Fowler advanced from Sherwood Bridge, coming in [into] the village at speed with loud shouts.