Mandeville, James
John M. McDonald interview — 1845-10-31
James Mandeville (1760-1848) recounts the British raid on Peekskill that took place on March 23, 1777. The expedition landed at Lent’s Cove in Cortlandt, and then marched northward to take a position on Drum Hill. From there, the British artillery commenced a bombardment against the American position on Fort Hill. Alexander McDougall, the American commander, ordered a retreat to Gallows Hill. The British pursued, and burned the home of Mandeville’s father. On March 24, 1777, Colonel Marinus Willett led a successful attack against the British near Van Cortlandtville. Mandeville also describes Fort Independence, which was located on the Hudson River at Roa Hook. He mentions that Jackson Odell told him that the home of Captain John Lilly on Verplanck’s Point was burned in July 1776, and concludes by stating that Westchester Guide Brom Dyckman was interred in an unmarked grave in Crompond.
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 234 -
1845
October 31st. Peekskill – James Mandeville: “When the British took Peekskill on the 23d. of March, 1777, they landed at Ver Plank’s Point (at Lent’s Cove) on the high ground a little way west of the Post Road, about one and a half or two miles from Peekskill, then marched up, crossed the bridge which then connected Ver Planks Point over the salt creek (Quere – McGregory’s?) with Ryke’s Patent, advanced and drew up on Drum Hill, or Kronkhite’s hill, so called from Captain James Kronkhite of the militia who lived on the west side of it, near the foot of it, and contiguous to the Post road. The Continental stores were deposited in some buildings which stood in the present village, and were about a quarter of a mile from the nearest part of Drum Hill. The position which McDougal took and where he waited for the enemy’s
- Hufeland Index Page 235 -
1845
advance to ascertain their strength &c must have been a commanding hill opposite to and east of Travis’s hill. This position so taken was on the east side of the Post Road, just out of the village on the way to general Van Courtland’s, and approached close to and commanded the said Road. Here the British artillery on Drum Hill canonaded, and one of their balls striking a stone in the road it flew into splinters, one of which struck a soldier of McDougall’s and killed him, though standing some distance (a hundred yards) off. McDougall then retired to Barrack No.2, about two and a half miles from the town, beyond General Van Courtland’s house – such barracks being on Gallow’s Hill. (?) The mills contained Continental grain and flour, and secured by McDougall, &c.
- Hufeland Index Page 236 -
1845
were Van Courtland’s mills, situated probably on the Peekskill. (?) The advanced guard of the British was posted on a hill about half a mile south of General Van Courtland’s on the east side of the road, and a little to the north of a small conical hill. My father’s house, or rather the house belonging to my brother John and me was burnt at this time by the British in consequence, probably, of the family being very warm whigs, and of my brother being in the service as a militia officer. Old Fort Independence stood on the level part of the Point which puts out north of the Peeks-Kill. – Some of the remains are yet visible at the extremity of the Point, near the large summer boarding house recently erected there by Colonel Pierre Van Courtland.
<left margin> Two Van Courtlands O.H <left margin>
- Hufeland Index Page 237 -
1845
Our house was the only dwelling house the British burnt in 1777 when they took Peekskill. The enemy were said to have lost in killed and wounded, in the skirmish with Colonel Willet, fifteen men. (?) Mr. Jackson Odell says that he dwelling house of Captain John Lilly, bunt in July 1776, stood on VerPlanks Point. Brom Dyckman was interred in the burying ground at Crompond and (as I understand) the particular spot is not known, there being no monument to mark the place.