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Ezra Lockwood and Mrs. Hunt.

Nov. 22d. & 23d. Ezra Lockwood and Mrs. Hunt: Major Ebenezer Lockwood, our father was a member of the committee of safety and was informed of Tarleton’s intended attack a day or two before it took place by the famous Kennicott of the spies. – Kennicott came up from West Chester on foot to Poundridge for the purpose of putting them on their guard. Sheldon’s officers were quartered at Major Lockwood’s

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Ezra Lockwood and Mrs. Hunt contd.

and he had got all ready to move the day (night?) before, but Sheldon dissuaded them saying they could never move in such weather. It rained very hard all night. Major Lockwood’s family were dressed and did not go to bed, but were ready to move away next morning. The horses were kept saddled and bridled in order in the road between the Meeting House and Major Lockwood’s house where H[unt]. now lives. A vidette [X] was posted about three quarters of a mile or a mile from Poundridge Meeting house where the road to Poundridge diverges from the B[edford] and Salem road and where there is now a red house. This vidette came in at speed reported a large body of cavalry advancing from the direction of B[edford] by the B[edford]

[X] Sheldon had just ordered or was about to order the horses to be turned into the fields to pasture when the vidette came in.

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E. Lockwood &c Mrs Hunt contd.

or upper road. This did not still create much alarm – a detachment of Moylan’s being expected to join them – and so certain were they that no attack would occur in such a storm. Major Tallmadge, however, with a small party instantly advanced to reconnoitre. About half a mile from Poundridge, on rising a hill, he suddenly met the British advanced guard face to face. They had previously been hid from him by the winding of the road and the hills. He wheeled about with his command and retreated the British following at full speed gallop, shouting and screeching: “Surrender! You dammed Rebels, surrender! &c. In this way they entered Poundridge. Sheldon’s [party] seeing themselves out numbered and being surprised wheeled and retreated South upon the Stanford road the British following and charging whenever they could. When they came to where the Canaan road turns off, Major Lockwood took the Canaan road and part of Sheldon’s

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Erza Lockwood & Mrs. Hunt contd.

followed him, the rest still retreating on the Stamford road. There were many fights along the wood. There was a private in Sheldon’s named Buckhout who was called upon repeatedly to surrender but refused. The dragoon threatened to shoot but he still refused. At last the dragoon fired exclaiming: “There you dammed Rebel! – A little more and I would have shot you dead!” The ball had just grazed his cheek. Buckhout instantly and promptly replied: “Yes, damn you! And a little more and you would not have hit me at all!” [X] General

[[X] Nov. 2. 1848. Ezra Lockwood informs me that when Tarleton’s horse pursued Sheldon’s at Poundridge, on 2d. July 1779, a British dragoon got near one Hoyt of Sheldon’s and was very vociferous, cursing Hoyt and calling on him as a damned rebel to surrender &c, where upon Hoyt, turning in his saddle, fetched a back stroke which passed thro’ his pursuer’s mouth cutting his face nearly in two parts from ear to ear, and putting an effectual end to his cries and execrations! J.M.M]

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Ezra Lockwood and Mrs. Hunt cont’d.

King of Ridgefield was a sergeant in Sheldon’s at the time. The road branches to Canaan and Stamford about three quarters of a mile from Poundridge Meeting House. One of Tarleton’s dragoons was shot by a militia man in the retreat. Major Leavensworth with a body of one hundred continental troops was stationed about a mile from Pound ridge on the lower road where the wide stone road wall now is. He prepared to cut off Tarleton’s retreat by crossing with the regulars and militia to the upper road when the British retreated. They had just set fire to Major Lockwood’s [house] and ordered Joseph Lockwood’s [house] to be burnt; but word coming of the gathering of militia and Leavenworth’s manoeuvres, they suddenly retreated, taking with them all Major Lockwood’s cattle. They returned as they had advanced by the upper road to B[edford] burning Crawford’s house near which they mistook their road. They had enquired of Crawford

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Ezra Lockwood &c Mrs. Hunt contd.

in their advance the route to Poundridge and fancied he designedly directed them to keep on the Salem road, whereas Crawford and his family were tories. They took off several of the Hill family who were obnoxious to them. – Bedford was burnt the next day Sunday after Poundridge was taken. Poundridge Meeting House formerly stood in the road close to where it now is and was rebuilt on the old foundation, but afterwards removed to its present location. The “Lockwood memory” was celebrated and came from our grandmother whose maiden name was Hoyt.

[Mr. Raymond - When the British retired after burning Bedford, Mr. Raymond was near their rear armed with his gun and bayonet. Two officers had lingered in the rear on horseback. They were close to their comrades, but a hill intervened which hid them. Raymond got before them and levelled his musket saying: “You must both surrender! The moment you offer resistance I’ll shoot one and bayonet the other!” After a short parly both surrendered with their horses.]