Valentine, Dennis
John M. McDonald interview — 1844
Dennis Valentine describes the British fortifications in present-day Bronx County that served as part of the outer defenses of New York City, as well as some other buildings that were used by the British forces. Interspersed in this description are comments about the Stockbridge-Munsee Native American soldiers who fought in the Battle of Cortlandt’s Woods and the activities of the Loyalist Cowboys and the American Skinners.
Manuscript page facsimiles
High-resolution images served from the Westchester County Historical Society's IIIF endpoint. Click any page to view full size.
Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 113 -
Dennis Valentine:
A chain of British forts to protect the lines several of which ran along the Ridge north of Dennis Valentines. Fort Independence about a mile north of Delancey’s and Valentines. Tetards Hill three quarters of a mile north. This was one of the British forts. Then came No.5 between Valentines and Fort Independence, being about a quarter of a mile north of Valentine’s. No 6. about 300 yards south of Dennis Valentine’s on the Ridge – No 7 on Nicholas Berman’s father’s land about half a mile south of D. Valentine’s. A British fort near Valentine’s house in a south westerly direction called the King’s battery – the site surrounded by cedars. Below (East) of No. 8. the Refugees in the woods – protected the British lines. Negro fort about a mile and a half from Dennis Valentine’s (No. ?) on John Corsa’s land (that is, a son of Andrew
- Hufeland Index Page 114 -
Dennis Valentine contd.
Corsa) so called from a detachment of Negroes in the British pay, being quartered there, commanded by Captain Cook. General Montgomery owned the farm where Fort Independence stood and once lived there. The Stockbridge Indians were cut off in Courtland’s Locust orchard, a little west of the Mile Square road about half a mile south east of Courtland’s house. – Emmerick’s quarters were on Tetards Hill for a long time. Whenever refugees were out of money they went in pursuit of plunder. The Skinners would drive cattle down to a spot where cowboys would meet and take all by pre-concert and afterwards divide the spoil. The old Dutch Church at Fordham stood near No.6 on the road leading to the landing on Spuyten Duyvil creek – Of stone – Used by the British troops as a bake house for the army – Went to decay – It stood about
- Hufeland Index Page 115 -
Dennis Valentine contd.
three quarters of a mile South of Dennis Valentine’s – just over the Ridge where No.8. stood. From Fort Independence or Negro Fort (?) the chain of forts (1.2.3. &c.?) ran to the North River.