Lockwood, Ezra, 1777-1850
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-10-30
Ezra Lockwood (1777-1850) recounts the Battle of Pound Ridge, which took place on July 2, 1779, between a British expedition commanded by Banastre Tarleton and an American force led by Elisha Sheldon. He notes that Sheldon mistakenly thought that the British force was the 4th Continental Light Dragoons commanded by Colonel Stephen Moylan. Tarleton gave orders to burn the house of Ezra Lockwood’s uncle Ebenezer Lockwood, a militia officer and member of the New York Provincial Congress. Before this could be done, however, the appearance of a force of Continentals under the command of Major Eli Leavenworth necessitated a British withdrawal.
Manuscript page facsimiles
High-resolution images served from the Westchester County Historical Society's IIIF endpoint. Click any page to view full size.
Transcription
218 415
73.
[margin: PARTS] October 30th Ezra Lockwood, of Poundridge "Tarleton went nearly half a mile on the Salem road, east of which the Poundridge road turns off, before he discovered his mistake. A vidette rode in and reported the advance of a large body of horse from towards Bedford. Sheldon sent Major Tallmadge with a file of men to reconnoitre. About half a mile from the church on rising a hill, he came upon the British advance guard who called upon him to surrender. He and his men had just time to wheel about and put spurs to their horses and they entered the village with the British at their heels. [Sheldon] thought the advancing party were Moylan's which were expected every day; and he had not time to form his men when the British entered close to Tarleton with calls for surrender, shoutings and execrations. Sheldon's men, taken
[page break]
416 221
74.
[margin: PARTS] by surprise, and seeing the numerous body preparing to charge, gave way, and was pursued two or three miles. Buckehout Rd. Some took the left road to New Canaan, but most of them fled on the Stamford road. Tarleton, on his return, gave orders to burn my uncle's house, but before this could be done word was brought that Major Leavenworth who lay with about 100 Continentals on the lower road was pushing forward to cut off their retreat by the upper road. Tarleton then ordered an instant retreat. His prisoners, whom he speaks of, were mostly the neighboring inhabitants.