Brush, Benjamin
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-11-26
Benjamin Brush (1764-1847) recounts several incidents that took place in Greenwich, Connecticut, including the skirmish near Round Hill during which Captain Ebenezer Theall of DeLancey’s Refugees was killed. He does not believe that black rate was enforced in Connecticut, but rather that the property of Loyalists who went behind British lines was confiscated. Brush also recounts an incident when American cavalry commanded by David Hopkins surprised and nearly captured Andreas Emmerich, and states that Samuel Reynolds killed Shubael Merritt at New Rochelle. Brush then explains that during a British raid, dragoons commanded by Banastre Tarleton smashed the windows of houses in Stanwich that had quartered Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Walton White of the 4th Continental Light Dragoons. He recalls the role played by Refugee cavalry led by Isaac Hatfield during this raid, and notes that White was able to escape capture. Brush concludes his interview by indicating that Titus Bridge was the location of the execution of Brom Barrett and the site where Refugee cavalry commanded by Moses Knapp attacked and captured part of an American guard post.
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Transcription
Waterbury's Guard of nine months or [Year's] men was several times times [taken] at Titus's Bridge by the Refugees.
Colonel Humphreys was a noble looking man and a good officer.
When Colonel Wells was taken at Horton Reynolds's, but very few, if any, of his men were killed. Rivington's statement of fifteen killed must be a mistake.
[marg: 1846. November 24th.] Benjamin Brush: "Theall and his horse were both killed on the spot. After crossing the pond, they (White's detachment) took a horse to Capt [Pope] who was a fleshyman, and tired with the long march. Heard, Peyton, Carr, a trumpeter, and about seven men remained behind as a
rear guard. Heard and Peyton turned suddenly — one, to the right, and the other to the left; and Peyton, with a back hand blow killed one dead. — (Peyton was a very tall man — Heard not much above the middle size, but strongly, actively, and elegantly form =ed.] Heard killed the other who hung sometime by the stirrups. — Gaines was taken about a mile north of Stanwich Church, as Dr. Betts was Belcher lived then in North Street at Mr. Norton Reynold's. — Colonel Mead was taken prisoner, and Captain Sylvanus Mead of the 9 months men was also taken by Captain Frink at Clapboard Ridge west of North Street. — (Major Fitch commanded the whale boat man. — Black rate was not known or enforced in Connecticut, I think, but they confiscated (when folks went below) their property.
Emmerick (when surprised by Hopkins) kept swinging his [sword] behind his head for protection while being pursued by Carr, and calling for his men to rally, and for the infantry to come to his assistance.
- Captain Reynolds, of the whaleboats, killed Shube Merritt at New Rochelle.
- Windows of houses, where White had been quartered at Stanwich, which were broken in &c, viz. by Tarleton's dragoons, were those of the Widows Ingersoll and Austin, &c.
- Part of Hatfield's party came through the fields, I suppose, in order to collect the cattle and to flank the main body.
- White had not left our house more than a day before [Tarleton] came, and he must have joined his regiment by crossing the fields. His regiment then lay West (east?) of Stanwich towards Stamford.
- It was at Titus's bridge over the Mahanus river that Captain
Lockwood and Fade Donaldson hung Brom Valet [Barrett?], and also where Captain Knapp attacked and took part of Waterbury's guard.
1846. - November 24th Abraham Davis: - "Totten once went above the Croton, and took some cattle from the active Whigs which he entrusted to a small party, returning himself by another direction. John McFadian was of the party, and they asked for more men, being afraid of an attack from superior numbers, but Totten refused more saying they were enough. Below and near Tarrytown they were attacked by superior numbers and the cattle were recaptured. McFadian made for the woods and was followed and attacked by a militia man, but he pointed his gun and