Green, Jeremiah
John M. McDonald interview — 1848-10-31
Jeremiah Green (1764-1856) recalls an incident when Colonel Isaac Hatfield of DeLancey’s Refugees raided Middle Patent in North Castle to drive off cattle. After leaving Middle Patent, the force went through Round Hill in Greenwich, Connecticut, where they encountered a company of Westchester County Militia under Lieutenant William Mosier. The Loyalists abandoned their cattle, and as they made their way toward King Street on the border of Connecticut and New York, they had to avoid a regiment of Connecticut Militia commanded by Colonel Bezaleel Beebe. According to Green, this was the largest force that came to Middle Patent to collect livestock, but smaller parties came up more often. Green concludes by mentioning two incidents involving British cavalry: an attempt by Banastre Tarleton to surprise a force of Continental Light Dragoons commanded by Colonel Anthony Walton White, and a skirmish in which James Miller was killed.
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Transcription
October 31st Jeremiah Green of Middle Patent. When Colonel Hatfield drove off the cattle from Middle Patent, &c he came up to North Castle, then took across road about a mile north east from Smith's, and came into the Middle Patent road. Here they swept off horses, sheep and cattle, and going north east till they came to the Bedford and Stanwich road when they went Southerly to Stanwich, from which place they went westwardly to Round Hill. They collected the cattle &c from the fields wherever they could find them. At the rocky pass between Round Hill and Quaker Ridge, Lieutenant Hosier with Sackett's company opposed them, and fired upon them in the road &c. They were panic struck and left the cattle, &c. They then made a circuit going first through the woods by a cart
path which ran nearly westerly to Quaker Ridge. Here they formed again, making a halt a little while. I saw this myself. They had got into much confusion after losing the cattle. They then went South till they came into the southerly road leading from Stanwich to White Plains. After crossing the bridge by Clapp's Mills they moved towards King Street till they found Colonel [marg: (Bebee)] Bebee advancing against them, when they took to the fields, cut across a corner of the road near Tommy Clapp's and so gained King Street. One of the prisoners they had taken told me of this last in relation to their meeting Colonel Bebee.
This was the only time they came up and took away stock in large forces. Small parties came up often. Our cattle were driven
off them. The first cattle they took were off this place. It was early in the morning, and in the summer season when they came.
When Tarleton made an attempt to surprise Colonel White one party went north to cut off his retreat. They lost their way in the night, woke up one Miles, a weaver, when they compelled to pilot them back.
The day James Miller was killed some of the dragoons came down the Middle Patent road. Those I saw — all wore red coats and appeared to be regulars. This force was altogether cavalry.