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October 27th James Hopkins of Round hill aged 83: "The first time that the British regulars came up to North Castle was in the month of May or June. We were hoeing corn the first time. Their force was four or five hundred horse, and about the same number of foot commanded by a general officer who remained at Clapp's in King Street to support the horses. They were Hessians, British and Refugees. The horse came up to the hill east north east of Smith's Tavern where about twenty militia were posted. I don't know who commanded them. It might have been Lieutenant Moses or Lieutenant Wright Carpenter who were with them. Captain Benone Platt was not there. [margin: W. Carpenter?] had a Black servant, named [margin: (See Orig. middle of page 38.)]

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Aaron (a military man, a slave, who would turn out with the militia, and his master, Gilbert Palmer, a whig, in consequence gave him his freedom) and a fine horse called Prince. When the attack was about to commence Carpenter told Aaron: "Now when we begin to run do you mount my horse and secure him." Accordingly very soon the militia began to retreat, and Aaron ran for the horse which had escaped from his fastening but he secured, mounted him, and escaped by riding down a precipice among rocks where his pursuers (some British dragoons) were not able to follow him. James Miller was the only American [grave] killed, one militia man was taken and a number of the inhabitants. This happened before Pound-ridge was taken by [Tolbert?]. They must have come up for cattle and prisoners. When they [margin: [See Orig. lower part of page 38] There is an error in the original with an "m" to "numbers."]

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retreated they paraded on the flat west of Samuel Smith's. They appeared to have expected more opposition than they encountered from their numbers. The swamp south of Smith's Tavern by the Widow Dayton's was made as safe as a fort where persons might have returned in times of danger. It was then full of bushes and impassable for horses. A party of Refugees came up (Kipp's) at the latter end of the war, and towards the break of day they overtook Lieutenant Bouton's company of militia [on Lewis's ground?] Poundridge. Bouton's men were scattered along the road weary with the march – and the main part with Bouton by the Widow B. Dayton's, and the rest near Smith's Tavern where Benjamin Hopkins house had stood. Bouton and the men with and near [margin: (See the sentence in the original page 38. (lower end.)]

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him ran into the swamp and escaped — the others were pursued and overtaken on the plain south of Smith's house and were all (eight or ten) captured. The horsemen then dismounted, and summoned them to surrender and entered the swamp – killed a man threatened to named Marshall with their pistols, or as some say with his own gun. The Refugee commander then summoned Bouton to surrender which he did with all the men about him. Bouton and his men were from Pound ridge. He was never after in the service. I believe A man named Fancher was dreadfully cut about the head with a broad sword south of the swamp (where he had run) and left for dead. The swamp then full of vines. Fancher got up and wandered about deranged with his head cut so that his brains could be seen to work. He was taken to Gilbert

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Palmer's house. Doctors Belcher and Adams were sent for who dressed his wounds, and soon after he recovered. I saw him afterwards in the service. He was wounded in the right wrist. James Miller was at Colonel Thomas's house at the time that officer was taken and escaped by concealing himself in a hogshead of feathers. In Lieutenant Bouton's affair above, his men had plundered and their knapsacks were filled with poultry. An Irishman took out some of the contents and exclaimed as he went along: "I've come honestly by them! – I've I – I did'nt steal them! No." He took knapsacks and all. When he turned turned out again my aunt said to him: "I think you should be exempt, my lad, from service after being lame." He answered: "If I am clear by the

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laws of man, I am not by the laws of God."

Thomas Ferris, Wright Carpenter and Tim Knapp formed a plan to take off two very fine imported blood horses, viz: a gelding (Goliah) and a mare which were kept concealed on Millett's neck (?) below West Farms. They were watched with great care as it had been given out that they would be taken off by persons from above to retaliate for some predatory excursions of the DeLancey's Refugees. It was some time before they could discover where they were kept. At length they found the place and soon after the horses were turned loose, in a large meadow that was surrounded with briers and hazel bushes among which they concealed themselves, for several persons [margin: Capture of DeLancey's horses]

248 748 81 were about sufficiently near to see them and give an alarm the instant they left their cover. These persons at last disappeared and the horses were then alone, under care of a negro boy who remained, near by and watched them. Still the three adventurers hesitated to uncover themselves for fear the boy would sound an alarm before they could have time to secure him. Fortunately, a sudden shower of rain came to their aid in the midst of which the boy scampered for shelter to a neighbouring house; & alvery singularly the horses came to the very spot where the captors were hidden. They were prepared with bridles, and the two horses were instantly and mounted. Ferris and Carpenter riding Goliah and Knapp the mare. It had been previously [page break] 749 251 82 been determined that their safest route would be to cross Williams' Bridge notwithstanding the guard constantly kept there. Ferris and Knapp well acquainted with the neighbouring grounds crossed the country towards Williams Bridge with the utmost expedition passing most of the way through open fields and meeting with no obstruction, but taking care to approach nobody within speaking distance. One person upon whom they came unexpectedly inquired if they were going to water the Colonel's horses and they answered in the affirmative. When they began to descend the hill at Williams's they beheld the first of the danger that was in store for them. A party of Refugees returning from above and overtaken [page break] 252 750 83 by the shower had pulled up here, dismounted and taken the saddles off their horses. With great presence of mind our three adventurers put the steeds that carried them to their utmost speed, shouting aloud and looking behind them: "Here they are, boys! Come on, quickly — We'll take'em them all!" The sentinel and dragoons were panic struck with this sudden attack. The former discharged his musket, and all ran for shelter to the woods and bushes on the banks of the Bronx; but the dragoons soon discovering the trick practiced upon them, mounted again and pursued the runaways, who soon perceived another peril to be encountered. Two Refugees who belonged to the party they had just passed but who had lagged behind [page break] 253 751 84 were now approaching in the middle of the road. When our three adventurers had come within hearing distance they cried out as loudly as possible: "Clear the road! — a race — a race!" The dragoons they approached wheeled right and left and allowed them to pass, but having recognized the horses pulled up and momentarily after a few minutes hesitation, turned about and pursued. The sun had now set and evening was approaching, but the race was scarcely begun, although the fugitives had already ridden the captured steeds at their utmost speed for several miles. As they moderated their speed in passing over the hills on their way. They distinctly heard the shouts of their pursuers and Ferris fearful that Goliah's powers might not be sufficient to secure the safety of his two riders [page break] 254 752 85 declared to his companions that he would now leave them, and immediately thereupon jumped off. At this moment, a Quaker, apparently well mounted passed by, and Ferris recognizing in him an old acquaintance told him in a few hurried words that he was flying for his life and asked for the loan of his horse. The friend at first refused, but a moment afterwards yielded to the dictates of humanity. Ferris now mounted upon a fresh steed, pushed forward to overtake his comrades but in vain. He soon found that the his friend's horse could not run with sufficient speed to save the rider, and on passing a small hollow in the road, when he was secure from observation, he dismounted, threw the reins upon his horses neck, [page break] 257 753 86 and urging him onward with the whip as fast as he could be made to go, however, turned about to provide for his own safety. It was night time, for he could now hear the pursuers. Mounting a high rock by the road side he sprang into a thicket of bushes and briers which he drew around him and lay still. In a moment after the Refugees passed by. Carpenter and Knapp continued their flight towards the hills of New Castle. The mare urged beyond her powers at one time fell, but after panting for a moment on the ground rose and justified her origin in resuming the race. It had cleared off and was a bright moon shining night, nearly as light as day. Carpenter and Knapp rode with great judgment pulling up as they crossed

the hills and sometimes in the early part of the race allowing the pursuers to approach near, but leaving them again at a distance when the ground became favourable for running. In this way the pursuit continued as far as White Plains, but when the Refugees reached that place they found that the fugitives were far ahead with horses apparently untired, while their own steeds ready to drop down with fatigue could do longer run. Here then they gave up the race and returned. Ferris at first thought of going to his mothers at Throgs Neck, but a moments consideration convinced him that this was too hazardous, and he then made his way back on foot to Wright Carpenter's residence at North Castle, in the Kitchen of [page break] whose house which stood opposite the blacksmith's shop near Sam Smiths Tavern, he found Goliah and the mare, like himself, safe but weary. Ferris lay in the briars till near midnight, when he started for North Castle. He was never made prisoner - Wright Carpenter was afterwards taken prisoner, and Delancey threatened to hang him, but being a Lieutenant in the service, he escaped.