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November 3d Went, accompanied by John Nugent to White Plains – In the evening at Mr Washington Tompkins.

Nov. 4. At the Episcopal Church, &c.

Novr. 5th Enos Hobby, of Middle Patent, aged 89: “Bearmore, I should think when I knew him was about 25 or 30, and a very good and bold officer, but severe towards prisoners. In November (?) 1780, we started from Headquarters at Morris’s house (afterwards burnt) about 600 strong, under Major Bearmore. Huggeford, too, I think was along. We moved first up the North River road with the intention of surprising the guard at Pine’s Bridge; but when within three or four miles of the Croton information

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came that the rebels there had been strongly reinforced. We also heard that there was a strong patrol below which we hoped to fall in with. We then turned back, moving in regular order, about half our horse in front. Where Twitchings’s now is, we fell in with a scout that hailed us with great spirit: “Who’s there?” “Friends!” “Friends to whom” “King George!” We then received a volley which threw us into some disorder. The American scout was posted at the time they fired on the south east corner of the roads which cross at Twitchings and kept up their fire with great spirit for a quarter of an hour. The night was pitch dark and we couldn’t see their number. – Bearmore ordered his men to charge, but the bank was high with a fence on the top which the horses couldn’t surmount and with trees and bushes. At this moment Bearmore received his mortal wound after an unsuccessful attempt to charge. “Boys,” said he, “I’m wounded – but don’t mind that – charge

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the rebels, and drive them from their cover.” The men then moved to the charge and the scout retreated without loss. – We took no prisoners. We then continued our retreat; many of us so tired that we couldn’t march. The officers then ordered that the horseman should either take a tired footman behind him or allow the footman to take his horse. John Glisson, an Irishman of my acquaintance said to me: “Let’s exchange accoutrements, and you push into Morrisania, and don’t take anybody behind you.” I did so, and took care of the horse. There were several troop of horse along with us. The sun was about an hour high when we started, but the night that ensued was uncommonly dark. Bearmore died a few weeks afterwards. He was a fine looking officer. The Refugee settlements at Morrisania I think were chiefly on the east side of the principal road from West Farms to

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Morrisania Point, mostly in the woods – some on level ground, and some on the sides or tops of hills. When I saw the French and American troops in 1781 (July 22d) I was with some girls on the road from West Farms to Morrisania. I said, “Those are not our folks,” and the girls agreed with me. I then ran as fast as I could and arrived at the Ferry [X] by General Lewis Morris’s just before the advanced guard of the combined armies. A ferry boat was ready, and I immediately crossed to York Island. Montross took the Frenchman’s horse at this time. The officers and horsemen rode into the water and fired at Montross, but he would not give up the horse. The Refugees beckoned and shouted from York Island to him, and some waded into the water to assist him by firing. Presently they brought down a field piece which commanded the shore, and then the French and

[X] The Ferry, I think, was a little east of General Morris’s.

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Americans had to retire. I was about two miles from the Ferry at Morrisania Point when I first perceived the French and Americans. I was taken prisoner twice during the war; once, at North Street, Connecticut, and once at Stanwich. When taken at Stanwhich, I was hand cuffed, pinioned, and confined with others near Coscob at Greenwich. At first there came were about eight sailors – whaleboatmen, I believe, confined with us. Jesse Mills proposed that we should escape, and most of us agreed to make the attempt; but one prisoner was weakhearted, and said he would inform against us if we persevered. We had as many men (including the sailors) as the guard numbered, and the sailors were anxious to second us. Next day, however, the sailors were taken to another prison at Fairfield. I went up to Stanwich on this occasion with two others to scout &c. as most others did (that is to plunder). We were betrayed, and all three taken

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Jesse Mills was taken on another occasion, after us, and brought, afterwards, in where we were about ten days after our capture. I knew him well, and the first words he said to me were: “Hobby, we’ll break out and escape!” The plan was for me to rise and call out: “Surrender instantly!” &c, when we were to seize the soldiers arms and rush out. We were confined in the school house at Coscob in the same room with the guard. We were four and the guards about twelve. All of us were handcuffed but Mills. My two companions got their hand-cuffs off, and I got one hand out. The officer in command came in to look at us on the same night, and said to the officer of the guard: “If anyone of the prisoners attempts to escape, dispatch and run him instantly through!” About midnight, or a little after, I rose, according to our plan, and cried out: “Surrender!” &c, and then ran for the door and knocked down the sentry posted immediately at the outside of the door. My three companions by pre-concert

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jumped up the moment I gave the signal, shouting to the extent of their voices: “Surrender!” &c, and seizing the arms of the guard. They got the muskets from the guard and threw one to me over the fence, but I didn’t get it. I jumped over the fence adjacent to the Schoolhouse followed by my three friends, and passed close to the second sentry posted behind the fence about twenty feet from the house. It was dark as Egypt, and the second sentinel fired but missed us. A third sentinel was posted on the road in advance about eight or ten rods off, and he fired as we supposed at the second sentinel’s flash and killed him dead. When we formed our plan of escape there was a report current that the Refugees were coming up to liberate us, and this report materially aided our escape, as it intimidated the guard when we shouted out and made them think they were surprised. After our escape we went through fields and woods to Stanwich when we knew where we were, and

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then to White Plains, &c. and so to Morrisania This happened on a very rainy stormy night in the Fall of 1781. Mills didn’t return with us three, but went to the East and got a horse. It wasn’t the fashion for Refugees to buy horses. Mills was pursued and overtaken before he got to Morrisania and lost his horse. He was a bold, enterprising fellow. When he parted from us at Stanwich he said: “Boys, I mean to return home on horseback.” I shall go on to the 12th of January next. I think it was in 1781 that the fever was so fatal at Morrisania. I had it in 1781. The second time I was taken at North Street, a little south west of where Abraham Reynolds lives. There were three of us, and we were taken Lieut. Charles Smith, father of Charles Smith of North Street (Stanwich). Charles Smith said to me: “Cousin Enos, we must secure you and take you in, and then will parole you.” Then they took us to

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Coscob to the same schoolhouse we had been confined in, and then paroled us all three. My cousin Charles Smith took off my garters this time and pinioned my arms gently.