Corsa, Andrew
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-09-24
Andrew Corsa (1762-1852) describes the Refugee settlement that was established by Loyalists in the southwest portion of present-day Bronx County and provides some detail regarding the leadership of the Refugees. After the death of Major Mansfield Bearmore in 1780, the Refugees were commanded by Colonel James DeLancey, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Hatfield, and Major Thomas Huggeford. Corsa then recounts the engagement that took place in the northwest part of present-day Bronx County on July 3, 1781. He also discusses the cannons that were spiked by Loyalists near King’s Bridge in January 1776, and notes that he saw American General David Wooster during the campaign against Fort Independence in January 1777.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 519 -
Septr. 24th Andrew Corsa, of Fordham. “The Refugee settlement was mostly in Governor Morris’s woods east of and near Mill Brook. The new road lately made runs through it, but part of this settlement was on the lands of General Lewis Morris, west of the brook. There were 200 or 300 huts in the whole scattered about in and near the woods which consisted of very fine large trees. The huts were upon dry ground on the side hill mostly. Bearmore was never under DeLancey, but commanded the Refugees himself. After his death the Refugees were commanded by Hatfield, Huggeford and DeLancey. Bearmore was a very brave officer. Capt. Frederick Williams of Delancey’s was a very good officer. Captain Simmons left DeLancey and went above. In the engagement of July 3rd 1781, the
- Hufeland Index Page 520 -
main body of Washington’s and Rochambeau’s armies didn’t move further down than Williams’ Bridge and west of that on the Postroad and Mile Square road. Washington and Rochambeau retired that night but came back next morning and reconnoitred York Island. (?) The fight commenced where Tetard’s house was that was burnt down. The vaults of this house are still to be seen. The house was built of stone. The vaults were for wine. Delancey during the action advanced (himself personally) no further than the Negro fort. The cannon were spiked in 1776, at Cook’s or the Negro fort, which stood exactly where my son’s house now stands about a quarter of a mile and perhaps a little more south of the stone house built by Isaac Valentine and adjacent to the old post road. Isaac Valentine was a blacksmith and lived the latter part of his life and died at White Plains. They had hard
- Hufeland Index Page 521 -
work in drilling out the cannon which were spiked with steel and rat tail files. Every once in awhile one of the cannon would go off. I don’t remember that Barnes was one of Emmericks Captains, but Ogden and Althouse were. Bearmore did more active partisan service than all the rest of the Refugee officers together. During the siege of Fort Independence in 1777, I saw General Wooster on the heights near Isaac Valentines, carried by his men in a litter.