[marg: Before or after the capture of the horses? Bedford? Irishman 3 miles from Smith's house on the hill east of Byram.]

Nov. 10th James Hopkins:

(I think before the horses were taken), Thomas Ferris, Jedediah [Major?] Owen, and Captain Jonathan Paulding Horton went down to Throgs Neck where Ferris's mother lived with the intention of taking off one or two Refugee officers at that time there. Ferris at this time had constant communication with different persons at Throgs Neck among whom was Captain Simmons of DeLancey's who afterwards left the Westchester Refugees and who was a traitor. The three adventurers were discovered by the Refugees. They lay concealed in the bushes. Some of the Refugees were also afraid to remain at home and also had a nest in the bushes a little way from them along the same line of stone wall which

was lined with bushes. The three did'nt know much this. In the middle of the night a man came to Ferris and took hold of his hand: "Who are you? " And who are you?" answered Ferris. Ferris held on but the man got his hand released and joined his companions. All three then rose. Ferris looking behind found they were pursued and one man near who was very fleet named Golding, and who would certainly have overtaken them had he not fallen into a hole where they had dug and taken out a stone, and which in the dark could'nt be seen. They all three then escaped.

Simmons was informed of this in the morning. He then with the assistance built them in a stone wall, where they lay all the next night &c until the search was over. A general search was ordered, and Simmons to

avoid joining took an emetic. He supplied them with provisions from the time they came on the necks. The stones pressed upon them so that they could hardly stand it, and they could hear the Refugees talking about them and breaking the bottles they had made use of containing cider &c. The next night after this Simmons advised them to make their escape which they did, getting nothing this time. — Bashaw after being taken across the Sound became blind in consequence of having been swum in a state of heat. A man named [Coxe] Coxe at or near Oyster Bay owned Bashaw, who was afterwards kept as a stud. David Hall of Long Island had charge of the horse Bashaw, and afterwards said that he secured him and went in the house at night. In ten minutes went

out again and he was gone.

When Ferris was returning through Horseneck after the escape of Bashaw, he found the place in the possession of DeLancey's Refugees who had come up that day or the day before. His quickness furnished an expedient for passing the Sentinel. Riding up: "I want to see Major H. - -," said Ferris "where shall I find him?" The soldier informed him and allowed him to pass, but he took care not to be seen by any more of the Refugees and escaped safely.

Tom. Ferris and Tim. Knapp went below and secured a drove of cattle at West and East Chester from the Tories, but on returning at night near where John Tradwell (below where Mr. Bates (?)) lived they encountered a party of ten or twelve cowboys who had been above and were now on their way back also with a drove of cattle.

The hostile parties were ignorant of each other's strength. It was dark and the cattle became intermixed and the drivers were mutually afraid of each other. Each party sprang over the fence opposite each other. Ferris and Knapp fired several times, then ran round a [^Knoll] for cover, loaded and fired again. The Refugees all this time couldn't see them. After awhile all was still. Ferris then crept [marg: ?] between the rider and rails of the

fence so as not to expose himself, and picked out or got a cow and pair of oxen in the dark which he turned out into the field where they lay among the bushes. The whole drove being tired by this time had laid down in the road. Ferris had made out so well he now attempted another capture, but on going through the fence the rails cracked and broke, and he perceived a man behind and opposite the fence sink down and therefore didn't dare to cross, but went behind a tree and watched carefully. Presently the man raised his head, then his body, and at last he stood up straight behind the fence. Ferris then took as good aim as he could in the dark behind a tree to which he had gone for concealment and fired mortally wounding the

stranger who died that night.

It was now nearly day and Ferris retreated to Edward Burling's, a quaker, he was acquainted with lived a little above. Burling's family were now up and engaged in making cider it being in autumn. They were surprised to see Ferris whose face was covered with sweat and blackened with gunpowder. "What are you doing here Ferris? How dare you come here?" Ferris then asked if they could not send somebody down to see if those chaps were still there. Burling answered yes, he would send to borrow a scoup. He did so, but Ferris could'nt remain where he was but followed this boy, and presently met several men who knew and were talking about his adventure. They told him he had killed a man and

advised him to be off, pointing out to him several men at a distance on the ridge said, "Look yonder" Ferris answered; "I can out run them." He told them "I have probably killed the man, for I heard him scream dreadfully." He lost all the cattle he had taken, but secured the cow and oxen hid in the bushes, and drove them off to Round Hill. Tim Knapp left him just before he shot the man and he refused afterwards to let Tim share in his profits.

The cattle of the lower party were either purchased by the Cowboys, or driven off by them on account of the owners who were friendly to the Royal cause and traded with the enemy.

At one time during the Revolutionary war, a party of Moylan's horse was pursued by a superior number of British. At a school house on a knoll about fifteen rods north east of Byram river, and about two and a half miles south of Sam. Smith's, the horse of a private, an Irishman, stumbled and fell. The Irishman got up, threw down his pistol and surrendered, but the British dragoons, as they came up, commenced cutting at him. He then snatched hold of his pistol again and exclaimed: "If any of you cut at me again I'll Kill him!" An officer happened to come up then who said: "Save that brave fellow." Quarter was then given and he was consigned to the care of the Yager horse (who retired in a house, with the main body of their party).

— Mosier and several others lay under a fence near Tommy Clapp's, and when the Yagers passed fired on them. They put spurs to their horses and escaped leaving their prisoners behind. Mosier's party and the prisoners then escaped to the woods. The Hessians used to say: "Dam me de Rebel!"

Captain Pritchard lay at Roger Lyons, Squire Sam's grand father, on the place now owned by Samuel Wright Carpenter. John Smith, Lieut. Peacock, and about twelve more lay at William Furman's, on the hill, who was disaffected and sent below. This was the next place south of R. Lyons' at that time, and afterwards owned by Johnson & Rundell. Pritchard had removed that very day, but Wright

Carpenter and his party didn't knowit. before Captain Kipp of the Refugees came upon them in the night and took all. They felt secure because Pritchard was there but had shifted his quarters that very night. After they got at Haerlem Peacock escaped by knocking down the sentry and going upon an island and the next night he got across to the main. Peacock proposed to Smith [marg: body?] that they should escape together who would not consent. Peacock at length said: "Smith, I am going now." He then made a necessary excuse and the sentinel accompanied him. He then pretended he had lost something, and the sentinel stooped down to help to look for it, when Peacock, watching his opportunity knocked the sentinel down and ran, [The sentinel was an

Irishman of the lower grade. He got up and came into the guard-house. "Be Jasus!" said he, "and he's gone!"] Carpenter, being a lieutenant, was paroled. Smith was confined at first in the sugar house, and after wards went at large. He was a tailor and worked at his trade making clothes for the officers for which he was paid. Once he was kept on Staten Island. This was the hard winter. Lieutenant Rawdon's regiment was then on Staten Island and all Irish. While Smith was there the Americans attacked the Island drawing cannon over on the ice. Peacock told Smith, "If the British take me they'll hang me." He was a deserter from the British, and I believe he was an American. This information I got from John Smith himself.

[marg: x So in original (see page 76.)] Lieutenant Smith of Moylan's traffled at one time, was a very tall man. Moylan's wore pale blue round-abouts and pants of the same colour, boots and spurs, &c and leather caps with bear skin coverings, —and chains to ward off blows of the sword. Lee's Legion wore blue or green faced with buff. Armand's horses had their tails cut off just like the British horse. The privates were very much made up of Germans who had surrendered at the taking of Burgoyne.

Black rate was enforced here according to law. James Smith's [house] was owned by my uncle Benjamin Hopkins who had removed to Fish Kill early in the Revolutionary war. When it was burnt the house was occupied by Ichabod Ogden.

Reaben Wright's mills, (lately known as Robbin's and Thomas Wrights) are now Sands's Mills. When André was taken Lieutenant Colonel Jamieson lay at the head of Mill Square at or near Thomas Wrights Mills.

In 1781, Lauzun's Legion marched from Bedford by the Post road passing Smith's at sun about one or two hours high, or rather, I should say, near night fall. About twenty or thirty American guides rode in front. They went to Morris's that same night. Steve Hunt, one of DeLancey's told me that the guard ships had

woods, and some were captured.

The French infantry next day passed towards White Plains by the west road passing North Castle Church (I believe). Their drums were beating all day long.

The party that burnt Bedford were composed of Refugees, Regular troops and Yagers. My father said the Yagers took bundles of plunder from his house. The Refugees piloted them. Samuel Kipp was along and assisted my aunt in taking furniture out of my fathers house which they had fired. The Refugees fired the following houses on their retreat, viz: Peter Lyons's two houses, Israel Lyons Andrew Sniffen's house and barn, my father's (which was put out) my uncle Benjamin Hopkins's, Francis Nash's at Byram river, Benjamin

Clapp's about half a mile below, — Clapp's Tavern was a great place for Head quarters of the officers.

A great many Irish among Moylan's regiment which at one time was very ragged. They (the soldiers) then said that their rags would frighten the British.

I still think that Colonel Benjamin Green was not at the capture of DeLancey's horses, but that Tim Knapp was. It was sometime afterwards that they hanged Tim Knapp — I think the next season — perhaps the next Spring.

Steven Hunt of DeLancey's was at the Mosier combat. He told me that after Mosier's men had fired, the Refugees went [inter: out] of gunshot and consulted &c Some were for

causing half the troops to dismount and make a fresh attack, but the Commander Hunt or Kipp said: "You see they are determined men, and most of you are married, and our loss will be too great," Jo Mosier said a great many swords were left behind, dropped by the dragoons, when their horses were rearing and plunging in consequence of their wounds. While the Refugees were deliberating Mosier's party gave three cheers for victory, and withdrew to the woods fearing an advance of a party of foot to support the horses of their antagonists.

The Stock[bridge] Indians passing passed my father's which was the first house north of Smith's Tavern Steve Hunt then belonged to [strikethrough: Emmerick] Emmerick's, and said that Emmerick

exclaimed to the men after they had defended the Indians: "Ah, very fine men! — very fine men!" When the men dodged he said: "You must'nt do so — It's no use — What do you dodge for?"

—

Captain Theall was killed on Colonel Hatfield's excursion in July 1780. I saw his clothes after= wards. Aaron Palmer belonged [Sackett's] to Mosier's company this time which were divided into three parties, [one] and commanded by Sackett, one by Mosier, and the other by Sergeant McLeod. Theall and two others formed the advance, and attempted to cut through Theall was killed, one was wounded, and this one and the other rode through and escaped. The owners of the cattle then got the beasts again. Aaron Palmer got Theall's boots, and