Some time in the winter of 1781 or 82 a party of these guides + militia horse, under the command of Capt Williams went down to West chester + took a number of swords + pistols and returned as far as Sing Sing, where they insisted on stopping to get some refreshment + feed their horses. Williams urged them to go on about 3 miles, where some Continental troops were and where they would be out of danger, as they would certainly be followed up by the lower party of refugees. Notwithstanding Capt Williams entreaties, they insisted on stopping + was at the house of one Acker under the hill near the river, holding a vendue among themselves, selling off the swords + pistols they had taken. The Hudson River was frozen over except the channel. The enemies horse came suddenly upon them, fired + frightened some of their horses, that they broke loose and ran off. Many of the men ran off on foot. George McChain a young man about 19
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years of age was overtaken soon after he got on the ice and cut to pieces while on his knees begging for quarter. Williams (who did not get off his horse) after running about ¼ mile on the ice, his horse gave out: finding he should be taken, dismounted. Col Holmes + Capt Totten, came up with him; Williams told them he was their prisoner + gave them his sword, when they left him and pursued after John Odell. The rest of the party were coming on crying out Kill the d--d rebels &c when Williams (having given up his sword, had nothing to defend himself with + was sure of being cut to pieces) mounted his horse + ran off another quarter as fast as the first; finding it impossible to escape, he leaned his horse's head toward the channel of the river, determined to run in and drown himself rather than be cut to pieces; two of the Refugee horse (one on each side) came almost near enough to strike him.