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See pp. 116-125 of copy, and 76-81. of origl.

October 27th Andrew Corsa, aged 89: “On Sunday morning before sunrise, I was waked up by Cornelius and John Oakley at my father’s house which stood where the Roman Catholic College of St. John’s now stands, and informed that General Washington wanted me that day for a guide through Morrisania and Fordham. This was on the 22d of July 1781. I immediately dressed and went with them. – Directly in front of Dr. Power’s ^ll gate I found Genl. Washington, Count Rochambeau, Lauzun, and the officers of the American and French staffs all on horseback. While in their presence Isaac Webbers one of the guides asked me whether there were any of Delancey’s or Emmerick’s Refugees who were quartered anywhere near, as they should be glad to capture them (or their horses). I perceived instantly that he wanted the Refugee horses as they had the best in the county, and answered: ‘Yes – Last night I saw Sergeant Hilliard of Emmericks dragoons and Jim. Travers [X] at a house between here

[X] sometimes written Travis.

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and West Farms. Push on quick and you may take them. But take care that Hilliard don’t see you before you lay hands on him, for if he once gets in his saddle you’ll never take him in the world – for he’s a most determined rider and has the fleetest horse that’s known about here.’ The guides were all eager for the capture and the generals gave their consent. They furnished me with a horse, and we all set off at full speed, but Hilliard and Travis had got sight of us and mounted just before we reached the house. We pursued and took Travis, but we could not come up with Hilliard whom we chased through the fields for more than two miles. Hilliard kept a small tavern at this time on the road between Fordham and West Farms. We had a fine chase in the fields where there were no enclosures, as the fences had all been burnt up. The instant I described Hilliard’s horse the guides were all eager for the attempt; but Hilliard got off with ease notwithstanding his pursuers were

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well mounted. Travers soon after managed to get paroled. Immediately after this the combined army commenced its march for Morrisania. The two Oakleys, Webbers, and myself were the principal guides. We conducted them to West Farms by the then roads, and so along the Bronx till [X] we came to Willett’s ^Graham’s? Neck which Classon purchased afterwards. We then returned turned to the right and entered Morrisania, moving all this while along the roads. The moment we came in sight of Haerlem river from the high grounds about Gouverneur Morris’s house, a furious cannonade was directed against us from the British at Montressor’s Island, Haerlem and Snake Hill, and from the ships of war in the river. We (that is, guides) sheltered ourselves for several minutes behind the old Mill, but Washington Rochambeau and their suites moved on as cool and tranquil as ever. We halted a short time at Morrisania while the officers made some observations. After this we crossed the bridge

[X] (Hunts or Barretto)

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at the Mill, and the army also, after gaining the west side of the Mill brook halted awhile. We then led the army along the west bank of Mill brook about two miles when turning to the west we retired through the fields of Fordham &c. passing by Robert Morris’s (present) house – a little to the east of it, and so on to the high grounds above Dennis Valentine’s at Sun Hill where (I believe) the combined army encamped for the night. The next day (Monday July 23d 1781) we piloted the army again to Morrisania, but this time we advanced no farther south than the mills, and then retired as we had done the day before in a nearly direct line through the fields of Fordham towards Valentine’s Hill where, as I understood the army lay that night. In the Revolutionary war, the road from West Farms to Morrisania ran pretty nearly as it now does, that is, first along the Bronx &c. to Graham’s Neck (Willett’s Neck? [X]) then west to where Gouverneur Morris’s orchard now is; then south through the orchard &c.

[X] Clason Pt.

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to the old Mill, and so on across Mill brook to the old Haerlem Ferry. The road and bridge then crossed the Mill dam. The old Jail and Court House (one building) in the Revolutionary war, stood on the same side of the road as, and between, the Church and the Quaker Meeting House. The Jail was in the lower story which was stone, and the Court House in the upper story which was wood. It was, I think, upwards of four miles (probably four and a half) from Fort No. 8 to Gouverneur Morris’s at Morrisania. My brother, Isaac Corsa, the youngest of our family lives in East Chester, or in West Chester on the borders of East Chester. He must remember a good deal, and I advise you to see him. At the commencement of the revolutionary war, Bearmore, I think, must have been nearly 25 years old. I have heard that the Refugee Captain Knapp was for some offence sent to the New

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York State Prison. The Refugee troops, I believe, in general did not receive pay or clothing, but they all drew provisions. Mrs. Day’s Tavern stood the first house below Peter Myer’s on the left hand going to New York – that is, on the east side of the old Lost [X] road. I don’t know whether she ever kept Morris’s house for Genl. Knyphausen when it was his headquarters. Her name is Cintje Day, and she gave name to the Cintjeapple which first grew in her garden or in her place.”

[X] Post