- Hufeland Index Page 1025 -

[X] See pp 4-7 of origl. and 5-10 of copy

<left margin> Who in 1781 owned Dr. Powell’s place? In the march music or silence? </left margin>

1850. Octr. 19th. Andrew Corsa [X], of Fordham, aged 89: “It was just before sunrise on Sunday the 22d of July 1781 that I was awakened in my bed (at my father’s house where the Roman Catholic College now stands) by the guides Cornelius and John ^Isaac Oakley and James Williams, and requested to accompany the combined French and American armies as a guide to Morrisania. This I had agreed to do when I was up at Appleby’s, General Washington’s Headquarters some days previously. I dressed in haste and followed the Oakley’s and Webbers to where a gate led to an adjacent farmhouse. This very spot is now designated by the gate which conducts to Dr. Powell’s house and buildings. Here we found Washington, Rochambeau, the Duke (Lauzun) of the French horse and other officers setting abreast on horseback and facing the the highway. General Washington spoke kindly and directed them to furnish me with a horse. The guides enquired

- Hufeland Index Page 1026 -

if there were any Refugees in the neighbourhood. I told them two, vizt: Sergeant Hilliard and James Travis, [X] who were to be found on the route we should take to West Farms, but added that Hilliard must be surprised before he got on horseback, for if once in his saddle they would never overtake him. They were very anxious to capture Hilliard and his horse, and asked and obtained permission for the attempt from the French and American generals. We all immediately mounted and rode at full speed – I going ahead to show the house where Hilliard lived part of the time when off duty. Notwithstanding all our circumsection and speed Hilliard mounted just as we approached his house and Travers Travis? also. Instant chase was made and Travers was soon taken, but as I had predicted they could not come near Hilliard although they pursued as long as they could see him across the fields of Fordham

[X] Sometimes written Travers

- Hufeland Index Page 1027 -

and into Morrisania for a distance of two or three miles, where there were no inclosures to interrupt the race, the fences having been all previously destroyed. We then regained the road to West Farms and joined the Generals and their staffs who had come up. As we approached we passed on our right (that is on the south) a low old building which was for sometime occupied by Bearmore as his Headquarters. We had previously passed Emery’s lane which led down for about three quarters of a mile (between Fordham depot and West Farms) to Emery’s farm house, and which lane was then used as a public road towards Redoubt No. 8. We followed the Fordham road leading to Delancey’s Mills which at that time crossed the ground where the Boston Post road now is, at right angles, and then ran directly down to the Bronx, passing the spot where the old yellow tavern now stands

- Hufeland Index Page 1028 -

After crossing the river, the old road passed the bridge which stood where the present stone bridge stands, and running directly along the banks of the Bronx passed the site of the old Block House some distance to the right or west, which before its destruction stood upon a ledge of rocks in front of Mapes’s Temperance house or store. (?) These rocks at that time covered all the grounds where the houses and streets now are west of the Bronx. The Block House was a little south of the road which leads across the Stone Bridge. In the lower part of West Farm’s Village the old road came into and was identical with the road now used. We continued our march on the old road in the following order, scarcely moving off a walk: – 1st The guides with a small detachment of light horsemen, among whom were some of the generals’ aids; 2nd The Generals and their suites and attendants; 3rd Then at

- Hufeland Index Page 1029 -

a considerable interval the main body of the army. About a mile below Delancey’s mills we passed the house of Cornelius Leggett and a quarter of a mile further south the house of Robert Hunt which is still standing. These houses are remarkable as having, at different times, been the Headquarters of Colonel Delancey and Major Bearmore, as well when the officers in question were captured as previously and afterwards. About a mile and a half or so below Delancey’s bridge where the new stone mansion of Fox is now erected, we turned east ^west and arrived at a spot which commanded a full view of part of Long Island Sound including the Two Brothers. General Washington here ordered a halt and enquired the names of these islands. &c. We then retraced our steps for about half a mile or more and pursued the old road which led to Morrisania Ferry.” [We travelled

- Hufeland Index Page 1030 -

this road today, (Octr 19th). At first it was open and well worked apparently used by the neighbouring farms; afterwards it was shut up by several gates like a private lane and so as to be scarcely passable. At length we extricated ourselves by taking a private road leading to a country seat which it crossed. This private road conducted us to the Turnpike leading from Morrisania to West Chester Village. J. M. M.] Mr. Corsa in continuation: “As we approached Morrisania we took to the fields and crossed the high grounds about Gouverneur Morris’s house, marching upon the Ferry from the east. The moment we attained these grounds and came in sight of the enemy, the British opened a fire upon us from their Forts at Montressors Island, Harlem and Snake Hill and from their vessels of war at anchor in Harlem river. The fire was very heavy and was renewed when we approached

- Hufeland Index Page 1031 -

Mill Brook. I and some ^one of the guides took shelter behind the old mill; but Washington, Rochambeau and the other officers moved on as though nothing had happened, and seeing their coolness we felt ashamed and joined them. We then crossed Mill Brook by the road and bridge which led to the ferry across Haerlem river near Colonel Lewis Morris’s.” [Mr. Corsa here pointed out to me the spot where the old Mill and Bridge stood. The exact site of the old bridge is now indicated by a wooden bridge contiguous to a tenant’s house – both old Mill and old bridge having been situate a little south of the present Morrisania church.] “When we appeared upon the Ridge on the west bank of Mill Brook the British batteries again fired at us but we soon after commenced retiring along the low ground on the very edge of the brook where we and the army were all screened from the enemy’s shot. We retreated in this way along the west

- Hufeland Index Page 1032 -

side of the brook about one and a half miles (crossing the Post road under the hill east of the late Jas. Morris’s gate) and then marched across the fields towards the heights of Fordham. The combined army encamped that night, I think, on the high grounds north or west of my fathers, towards Valentine’s Hill. The next day, we went down again to Morrisania in the same order, but didn’t proceed so far towards Morrisania point. Our route too was somewhat different, but we retired as before across the fields of Fordham and Morrisania. [Probably this was the day on which the Generals examined the grounds along Haerlem river – the Forts on New York Island, &c. Qu. de hoc. This on the 1st day ? J. M. M.] The army this night again encamped on the high ground in the direction of Valentine’s Hill. Sergeant Hilliard’s horse was a yellow bay with a black list along

- Hufeland Index Page 1033 -

his back, and was much the fleetest of all the Refugee horses. The Refugee huts or settlements were mostly in the northern extremity of Morrisania, scattered through the woods east of the railroad, and near where the depot at Fordham now is. The narrow old cross road running nearly east and west – a little south of the Roman Catholic College was the boundary between Fordham and Morrisania The Commissary’s Headquarters where provisions were dealt out to the refugees &c. were on the banks of Haerlem river between Maccomb’s Damn and Haerlem Bridge – very near Cole’s bridge where vessels from New York came up with the supplies. Thomas Kipp, brother of the Refugee officers Samuel and James was the Commissary. The old ruins of brick and stone north of Dennis Valentine’s (which many folks call the remains of a powder

- Hufeland Index Page 1034 -

Magazine) are, in reality, the relics of liquor vaults which Dominic Tetard built, under or adjacent to his house. The house was of stone and long occupied by Colonel Emmerick as his Headquarters. Emmerick fortified and made it the principal outpost. It was burnt down in 1780 or 1781 – but I don’t know from what cause. On the 3rd day of July, 1781, the island of Paparinimo swarmed with red coats. They came out to support the Refugees and meet the threatened attack, but soon after retired.