Fowler, Philemon, 1771-1861
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-09-22
Philemon Fowler (1771-1861) discusses the murder of Gilbert Vincent and the subsequent killing of a French officer by Vincent’s brother Elijah. He then gives a detailed description of Andreas Emmerich, commander of Emmerich’s Chasseurs, a Loyalist unit, and notes the dispositions of the American forces at the Battle of Pell’s Point. He concludes by describing an incident when a group of British and Loyalist cavalry unsuccessfully attempted to pursue an American raiding party on the Boston Post Road.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 510 -
Septr. 22d Philemon Fowler, of East Chester: “Vincent was a blacksmith, and killed because he would not shoe a horse for them (a party of French) in consequence of which Elijah Vincent vowed revenge, and soon after shot the ^a French captain. Emmerick was a severe disciplinarian and often whipped his men for disobedience and plundering, and sometimes would draw his sword and beat them with the flat. He would sometimes be excited and cry after punishing them, declaring he did it all for their good. He not infrequently patrolled along here in East Chester. At the battle of Pelham (Oct. 18th 1776) the Americans were posted on the heights east of Pelham Point road and south east of the old Caldell house (én échellon) The Dobbs Ferry road mentioned by Colonel Glover turns off to the west about 2 ½ miles north of East Chester village on the road to White Plains.
- Hufeland Index Page 511 -
Once during the Revolutionary war, an American party had been below near West Farms and were retreating New Rochelle when they were pursued by the British and Refugee horse. These passed our house with drawn swords and threats of revenge. They overtook the Americans at Young Hills (near the Turnpike gate, and attempted to charge, but were received with a sharp fire, which wounded several men and a number of horses and threw the Refugees in great confusion who thereupon retired.