Corsa, Andrew, 1762-1852
John M. McDonald interview — 1844
John Macdonald interviews Andrew Corsa (1762-1852) and Dennis Valentine regarding several incidents that took place in Yonkers and present-day Bronx County. Corsa begins this interview by indicating the location of Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey’s headquarters, but states that he does not know the location of the headquarters of British Colonel John Graves Simcoe. Dennis Valentine then recalls an incident when a party of Refugees ambushed a group of Skinners who planned to steal cattle from Morrisania. Corsa and Valentine then refer to the skirmish of July 3, 1781, between an American force commanded by Benjamin Lincoln and a force of Hessian soldiers. They also give their recollections of Simcoe, John Pine, Peter Pine, General Oliver DeLancey, and Oliver DeLancey, Jr. The two men conclude by commenting on the difficulty with which the Refugees escaped from Morrisania in present-day Bronx County to Manhattan during an American advance. A note at the end of the interview questions whether this last paragraph refers to the raid led by William Hull in January 1781 or the reconnaissance made by the American and French forces on July 22, 1781.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 120 -
Andw Corsa. & Dennis Valentine: Delanceys quarters almost at or near West Farms. Simcoe’s don’t know – (Andw Corsa) (Dennis Valentine:) The Skinners formed a plan to take the Refugee cattle at Morrisania. A woman overheard the plot and informed a party of Refugees who waylaid them about half a mile south east of Dennis Valentine’s among the cedars and bushes by the
- Hufeland Index Page 121 -
D. Valentine, contd.
road side near Gilbert’s orchard (where several British soldiers were executed for a murder. They posted a sentry and went to sleep. The sentinel half asleep when the Skinners came along. He (Ben. Noble?) hailed them and fired. They cut him to pieces and retreated. The refugees fired and retreated too. This was about the middle of the war. (D. Valentine) The battle between Lincoln and Prueschenck (?) began near Phillipse’s. The Hessians retreated gradually to Tetard’s Hill. The Refugees then drove Washington’s troops and took Courtland’s Hill, and then the Yagers retreated across the Creek by way of the Locust orchard. Colonel Simcoe was a little (slightly) round shouldered, and was a very strong man and good horseman – John Pine and Peter Pine, guides – originally from Staten Island. Oliver Delancey the Adjacent Genl. must have been a son of General Oliver.
- Hufeland Index Page 122 -
When Americans advanced first to Haerlem river the British Refugees escaped with difficulty – Some swam across – some concealed themselves in the woods – some went down on the points in the swamps. [X1] (?) Qu. ? Was this Hull and Parsons attack or Washington’s?