Lyon, James and Sutton, James
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-11-18
James Lyon (1761-1850) and James Sutton (1760-1849) both served in the Westchester County Militia. They describe a skirmish that took place on December 29, 1780, between a party of Refugees against a company of Continentals commanded by Captain Thomas Pritchard and two companies of militia commanded by captains Marcus Moseman and Yaup Vermille. They note that Armand’s Legion was encamped several times on Succabone Street in Bedford, and conclude by mentioning the Black soldiers of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment who were attacked by Refugees at the Battle of Pines Bridge.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 639 -
Novr 18th James Lyon and James Sutton: “Lieut. Abijah Harris was a good and skillful soldier – so was Captain Yaup Vermilyea, but he was somewhat
- Hufeland Index Page 640 -
addicted to plundering. Succabone street is about two miles from Bedford in a westerly direction and commences when you turn to the right and ascend a hill in coming from Bedford to this place. The Refugees several times came to Suckabone Street and were pursued from thence to Clark’s corner. We were in a skirmish near Clark’s Corner when Capt. Pritchard, and Captains Moseman and Vermille with their companies pursued the Refugees to that place, which is about six miles below Old North Castle Church on the Tarrytown road. The Americans when they attacked occupied ground much higher than the Refugees, in consequence of which although they fired two or three rounds, they overshot the enemy, doing them no injury. Col. Armand with his legion lay at several times in Succabone St. but did not remain there long, changing his quarters frequently. He had a fine company of riflemen who were excellent marksmen. In May 1781, Pinesbridge was guarded by
- Hufeland Index Page 641 -
negroes, and they were attacked by the Refugees at the same time in the morning that Davenport’s house was surprised and taken. This negro guard was entirely cut to pieces, but by a different party from that which surprised Greene and Flagg.