pointed it out to me. (?)

Mr Thomas Strang informs me that the French army in 1782, was encamped on the long ridge of ground south west of Crompond Meeting House.

November 1st Samuel Chadeayne of Yorktown: "DeLancey when he attacked Colonel Green advanced by the White Plains road, or rather by the Chappequa road, and when he came to the Sing Sing road about three fourths of a mile from Pines Bridge left a detachment in an orchard on the right hand or east by a farm house, some of whose trees yet stand, with others to advance and take possession of the Bridge when (as soon as) they heard the firing begin. The main body then marched with expedition and secresy through lanes and woods to Blenis's [marg: Blenis's] ford, so called from one Denis O'Blenis, a Dutchman (?) who owned the adjacent farm. At this place, which is about a mile from Richardson Daven =port's farm house, where Colonel Greene's Head Quarters were, they crossed the Croton pushed on and were not seen until they arrived within pistol shot of a sentinel posted in front of the house Some soldiers lying asleep on the stoop rose up at the first alarm, stood to their arms and fired. Greene or Flagg fired from the chamber windows. The house was then stormed - Flagg killed, Greene mortally wounded &c. -

Knapp and Totten (?) then pushed for the Widow Griffen's, nearly two miles off by the said road. When they raised the hill in the road a little west of, and near to the Widow Griffens house they halted and sent forward a flag demanding an instant and unconditional surrender. The Ameri =can officer in command finding himself surprised by a superior force hesitated an instant when the flag re-iterated his summons for immediate surrender promising in that case quarters and good treatment, but that otherwise they must abide (take) the consequences. The American officer then ordered his men who had turned out to ground their arms. They were of the Rhode Island regiment, and mostly, if not all, blacks. Two of the blacks refused, said they would defend themselves, and instantly fired upon Knapp's horse, who were advancing upon the house, wounding Totten in the toe. The black soldiers were now charged pursued through the fields and slaughtered without mercy. About thirty days before this attack, Totten had come up to Colonel Greene's with a flag, when for some reason he was coolly and slightingly received, placed under a negro guard, and felt so much neglected and insulted that at parting he let fall this threat: 'Colonel Greene shall before long repent the treatment I have this day received'. The French army when they retired from White Plains (in 1781 probably) left some sick soldiers in North Castle Church and a surgeon of one of the French regiments went down daily to see them, returning at night to his quarters in Yorktown some where north of the Croton and near Pines Bridge. On his return from one of these visits he was waylaid by James Totten, James Tillott and two others at a place not more than a mile from Pines Bridge in a straight line to the south. They took him to a retired spot in a wood, robbed him of his money, gold watch and clothes, and then sat down under a tree and played a game of "all fours" to determine who should kill him. The poor Frenchman could not talk English but appeared to comprehend what was going on, and resigned himself to his destiny. When the game was over he advanced of his own accord to a tree and clasping the tree in his arms motioned to them to come forward and tie him, which they did, and straightway the appointed man put him to death. One of them (Totten ?) soon after appeared below at Morrisania, dressed in the Frenchman's clothes, and openly boasted of the deed, but received a sharp reproof from Colonel DeLancey. "Totten", he said, "you think you have accomplished an honorable and brave exploit in taking the life of a poor French doctor who made no resistance. You are a disgrace to the Refugees, and I want to see you no more. Take my advice, and withdraw from this place, for rely upon it if you don't the rebels will spare no effort or expense to hang you." He thereupon wisely took the proffered advice and withdrew. The Tottens, (James and G ) went to Nova Scotia, but returned and died here. James Totten once told me that he and three others were once overtaken by a thunder shower among some hollow rocks in the North Castle woods and the whole party struck with lightning. They were at first blind and could not see walk but at length recovered though with difficulty, and not until they had received medical treatment. -

Totten, when he had told me this story added: "I could not tell this story to every body for fear it might be repeated and cause observation". Holcroft lived on Davenport's Neck and traded below with the enemy. When Shube Merritt and Isaac Ackerly robbed him he complained and Colonel DeLancey ordered restoration. -

Holcroft refused saying: "No - for they will rob me again before I get home. Let them bring it to my house and I will then see if I can get it." DeLancey then directed Shube and Ackerly to carry the money to Holcroft at Davenport's Neck, which they did, and on his return Shube was taken at the tavern of the Widow Toulon's at New Rochelle Landing where he had imprudently stopped for the night, (?) by Reynolds, the whale boat captain, from Stamford, and his men. -

Reynolds told him: "Stand off! If my gun misses you shall go clear, other =wise take the consequences!" I saw him soon after his death. He was much pierced with buck shot in the eyes and face. It was always always supposed that Holcroft betrayed Shube, informing the whale boatmen where he was.

Captain Kipp was very severe and Totten kind to prisoners. Samuel Kipp of Mount Pleasant near Croton River is a son of Captain Samuel Kipp. Captain Samuel Kipp was lost at sea in going to Nova Scotia, whither his wife refused to accompany him.

When the book of Joshua Hett Smith came out we all made up our minds that the house where he and André took breakfast on the morning of his capture was the house of the Widow Budd at Pine's Bridge. This house stood near where Miler's tavern was afterwards built - it was long and low, and a road passed two of its sides (that is, the north and west) so that it was either on the right or left hand side of the road. On this day morning a young woman, now deceased, was on a visit at the house of a friend, situate on the east or right hand side of the White Plain road when André passed by and stopping enquir =ed the road to White Plains. This house was three or four miles and from Pines Bridge, and she directed him which road to take, showing him where the Tarrytown road turn =ed off from the White Plains road. The two roads were then in sight. He was just afterwards seen (by some Friends going to meeting at Chappequa) to take the Tarrytown Road which conducted him either to the Post Road a little below Sing Sing, or to the forks by See's store on the side of the hill a little above Tarrytown. The young woman always supposed he mistook his road.

Mem. André probably took the Tarrytown road designedly. Van =Wart and Yerks both said that he came down the Post Road, and Van Wart said he saw him from the hill by Clark's Kill just after he passed the Dutch Church. -

Jackson Odell.

A few days before Greene's surprise and death my father, who had lived here (where my brother now resides) for some years, and where I was born, was so persecuted and plundered by Skinners and Cowboys that he determined to go to NewRochelle among his relatives and friends where he was born and brought up. He accordingly went to Greene to obtain a pass and received one. Greene then deplored the same saying: "What a wretched war, &c which gave [gives] no security for life or liberty!" &c