Cregier, Augustus
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-10-01
During the Revolutionary War, Augustus Cregier (b.c.1769) resided with his family in a house located east of the Van Cortlandt House in present-day Van Cortlandt Park. Cregier notes that Loyalist Captain Joshua Barnes was an officer of Emmerich’s Chasseurs, and he describes the uniform and composition of that unit. He states that British Colonel Banastre Tarleton had his headquarters at his family’s house for several weeks, and gives his impression of Tarleton. Cregier then references the Van Cortlandt family, recounts some of Andreas Emmerich’s activities, and mentions that George Washington reconnoitered from Gun Hill during the reconnaissance of July 22, 1783. Cregier notes that Anna Fowler was engaged to marry Hessian Captain Carl von Rau. The marriage did not take place, as Rau died at the Van Cortlandt House after being mortally wounded during a skirmish in Yonkers. Cregier also recounts a skirmish between a Hessian force under Colonel Ludwig von Wurmb and Armand’s Legion, indicates that James Van Cortlandt was a militia colonel prior to the Revolutionary War, states that many soldiers in Lee’s Legion came from Philipsburg Manor, and notes the fate of Andreas Emmerich’s horse after the end of the war. He also explains the role of Samuel Lawrence in a skirmish that took place in the neighborhood of King’s Bridge on July 3, 1781. Cregier then gives a brief description of the Hessian Jager cavalry, the British Legion, and the British 17th Light Dragoons. He describes the role of American Captain Daniel Williams at the Battle of Van Cortlandt’s Woods, and provides information regarding the Blue Bell Tavern in Manhattan. He also recounts a skirmish near Tarrytown in which Lieutenant Elijah Janes (misspelled here as Jayne), an American officer, was wounded by Refugee soldiers in a party led by Captain Samuel Kipp. Cregier also mentions that a Refugee soldier named Chamberlain, who was wounded at Mosier’s Fight on December 2, 1781, was treated by his father, Dr. Cregier. After mentioning the location of Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey’s headquarters, Creiger discusses a skirmish between Armand’s Legion and a Hessian force commanded by Ludwig von Wurmb. He describes the postwar activities of American Captain John Pray, and gives an anecdote illustrating the manner in which Andreas Emmerich enforced discipline among his men. Cregier then gives his impression of Banastre Tarleton, and again discusses American Captain Daniel Williams and his men at the Battle of Van Cortlandt’s Woods in 1778 (not 1781 as stated in the interview) as well as the Blue Bell Tavern in Manhattan. Cregier next references Captain John Althouse of Emmerich’s Chasseurs, and discusses the house in which his father resided during the Revolutionary War. He also recalls American General Richard Montgomery and his farm in present-day Bronx County, and concludes by describing the horses used by the Hessian Jagers and the British 17th Light Dragoons.
Original findings from this interview
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
flags on the eminences.
Being an idle boy I used to be present at the parades and reviews in our neigh=borhood, and considered the British as much finer troops than the Hessians. At least they were better and more shewily draped, and made a much finer appearance.
Octr. 1st Augustus Cregier: "Joshua Barnes was one of Emme=rick's men, one of his captains, and they all wore a red uniform. Emmerick had a company of horse and two or three Companies of foot.
Tarleton's Head quarters were at my fathers for about three weeks after which he went to Crawford's at Mile Square. He was a handsome military man looking man. He took up all our house, but two rooms. Our house belonged to Van Cortlandt and was situated between Cortlandt's house and the mills, and east of the house.
James Van Cortlandt was the oldest son, Augustus the next, and Frederick the youngest. Augustus took the estate (which was entailed) at the end of the war in 1784 or 1785.
When Emmerick was a Captain, and was drilling his men in the beginning of the war, his headquarters were at Cook's house on Paparinimo. The house and Island belonged to Colonel Philipse
When Washington came down in 1781, he reconnoitred from Dennis Valentine's hill or Gunn hill.
Anna Fowler, was engaged to marry Captain Row, but died where Dr Bibby now lives at Van Cortlandt's hall. Row was shot about half a mile east of the Methodist Meeting House, and near a small ravine.
Colonel Armand and not Kilmaine or the French, surprised the picket guard of Col. Worm, about half a mile north east of Frederick Van Cortlandt's, and north near
carried swords and pistols but not carbines. The Legion horse and the 17th dragoons carried carbines.
Capt. Daniel Williams was near the Indians and in their rear when the fight occured. He was there with his company and met them by accident, and would have fallen into [the] an ambuscade if the Indians had not.
Old W. Bowers was a Hessian who came over with the Hessian army and married a daughter of Jacob Moore the father of Blaze Moore of the Blue Bell. The Blue Bell Tavern was kept after the Revolutionary war by Blaze, son of the old proprietor, Jacob Moore.
Chamberlain, one of DeLancey's, was one of those who maimed Lieut. Jayne near Tarrytown. Charles Leggett was another. Capt. Kipp commanded the party. Chamberlain was wounded badly in the thigh at Mosier's affair
near King Street, and his wounds were dressed by my father, Dr. Cregier.
Col. DeLancey's Headquarters were at Governor Morris's old house which was near the present mansion.
Wormb's picket guard was completely surprised by Armand who passed the sentry (surprising and taking him prisoner) who was posted at Hadley's Hill, north West three quarters of a mile from Dr. Bibby's. The picket guard consisted of twelve men. Armand's horse came up screaming and shouting and cut to pieces six or seven of them, but made no prisoners, retreating soon after.
Captn Pray of the Water guards after the war was second keeper of the Greenwich State prison and while there shot a convict who attempted to escape.
Emmerick flogged his men severely for stealing from the rebels and for other offences, and would sometimes cry
while the punishment was going on, declaring he meant it all for their good. Once, one of his men after running the gauntlet, leaped up, clapped his hands and exclaimed: "I am now a better man than ever I was!" Colonel Emmerick immediately put his hand in his pocket & gave him a guinea.
October 1st Frederick Post of Yonkers: "Jacob Van Cortlandt who took the large house and farm under the family entailment was a very good benevolent man, universally loved.—
During the war, and while residing in Courtland House he became out of health and went to New York for change of air and medical treatment, where he soon after died. The estate then devolved on Augustus who lived at that
Octr. 1st. Augustus Cregier (Continued from page 44 of original and p. 54 of this copy): "While Colonel Tarleton's Quarters were at our house I saw him often. He was [interl: a] handsome, black-eyed, black-haired military looking man, not below, but rather above the middle size, very straight and muscular, made a fine appearance when mounted, & rode an uncommonly fine horse
Had the Indians in 1781, been a few minutes later, Capt. Daniel Williams and his rangers would have fallen into the ambuscade. As it was he escaped with difficulty, being hotly pursued.
Old [illegible] Jacob Moore had two sons, Blaze, who after his death kept the Blue Bell, and Baltus, who was a tobacconist and accumulated a large fortune. If there be a man of that family now living in the Bowery, he must be a son of Blaze and a grandson of old Jacob.
Althouse the Captain of Emmerick's rifle men was either a German or the son of a Dutchman.
The house occupied by my father during the revolutionary war, was of wood, was owned by Van Cortlandt, was situated east of the Hall between it (that is, the Manor house) and the Mill.
General Montgomery lived on his farm (which was adjacent to and immediately north of Tetards) before the Revolutionary war. Montgomery purchased this farm of the Vermilyea family. Fort Independence was situate upon it.
The Yager cavalry were mounted on American horses, but the 17th Light Dra -goons rode on imported steeds that were trained, &c