1845

December 6th Robert Miller:

"Captain Totten though not tall was rather above the middle size, strong, well made, and remarkably handsome. When I knew him he rode a very beauti=ful grey mare. He went up once mounted upon this mare and returned next day with Benjamin Green whom he had wounded severely in the head and taken prisoner. He had met with Green and some others on horseback in the upper part of North Castle or thereabouts and given chase to them, he selecting Greene for his game. The fleetness of his mare enabled him soon to overtake his adversary, when Greene abandoned his horse and sprang over a fence in order to reach a neighboring wood, but Totten leaped his horse over the enclosure and was up with him in an instant. At this moment while in the act of raising his sword and

calling upon his antagonist to surrender his mare stumbled and threw him prostrate upon the ground. It was now Greene's turn to dictate, and accordingly sword in hand he turned and advanced upon Totten, offering him quarter and calling upon him to yield. Totten, however, was upon his feet in an instant, and in a moment after attacked his antagonist. A single combat now ensued between the two, with sabres, both on foot. The Refugee Captain soon proved himself the better swordsman and Greene after receiving one or two severe wounds in the head surrendered. Greene was afterwards a militia Colonel, and father in law of Frederick V. Coffin.

When Young's house was attacked there was a Continental guard in advance of about twelve men at our house who, on the first alarm, marched

with all speed to the main body, but did not arrive until the post was taken Colonel Thompson was much censured for fighting with a force three times his superior. Isaac Webbers, one of his guides, urged him to retreat to a hill a short distance north and there wait for the reinforcement advancing to his relief, but refused and persisted to the last that the enemy consisted only of a party of DeLancey's Refugees.

Major Bearmore was cruel to- =wards the active whigs and plundered and distressed them. He burnt my father in law's, Caleb Paulding's, Cider house, carriage house and cart for no other reason than because he was an active whig, compelling my mother in law to bring a brand out of the house for the purpose, and firing the roof of the cider mill which his men

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held. For this my father-in-law never forgave him. Caleb Paulding my father in law was twice taken prisoner and confined.

When Young's house was taken (on Christmas night, 1778) John Champe -nois, one of Bearmore's men was a prisoner sitting before the fire in the custody of a soldier whom Caleb Paulding had employed to guard him. Champenois had been engaged in depredations for which Paulding wishes to punish him. He had told his fellow prisoners repeatedly during the day that if Bearmore were living he would attempt their rescue that night, and they were, consequently, all on the alert in omentarily expecting the arrival of their Commander. Champe -nois heard the first noise which was some order for surrendering the house and exclaimed: "The major has come

Huzza!" A moment after some noise was made upon the stoop by three or four of the dragoons who had dismounted, and one of the inmates opened one of the front windows to see what was the matter when instantly several shots were fired in from without, one of which Killed Champenois dead. On the first alarm he had risen from his seat at the fire and taking hold of the man's musket who guarded him, said to him: "Give up your gun to me - You are our prisoner now!" The sentinel refused to surrender, and they were struggling both having hold of the musket (for Champenois although his arms were tied could use his hands) when the fatal shot passed through the window, and Champenois pierced through the heart, dropped dead into the fire.

One of William's men told me that when the alarm was given he

was sitting by the fire fiscing the flint of his gun which he instantly dropped, ran to the door, threw himself over the fence into the snow and made his escape with some others, although a volleywas fired at them and the Refugee sol diers were around the house. Bearmore then set fire to one of Young's barns, re-took the prisoners and cattle William had captured the night before, assembled the American prisoners he had made, and all the cattle he could find about the house and retreated. — The family of Champenois was French, and lived near Robbin's Mills, where some of the family yet reside. There were several brothers, all of whom belonged to the upper party, except John, who had joined Bearmore's corps. Both Nathaniel Purdy and his brother Joseph belonged to Captain

Kipp's company of Refugee horse. They were my near neighbors. When Tarleton's Legion lay near Abraham Davis's they were on McCord's hill encamped for several days at one time. While there a party of Sheldon's came down the road from towards Bedford. Tarleton's troops were at breakfast or dinner but left their repast and mount ed instantly and endeavored by crossing the fields to cut off the American horse They did not succeed, however, for Sheldon's men saw their movements in time and were well mounted. The pursuit, however, lasted almost as far as Bedford. On this occasion Tarleton had under him a strong body of Yager [large] cavalry mounted on heavy horses which proved very inferior in fleetness to the steeds of Sheldon's men. Their saddles were very high behind, and their whole

appearance extremely rough. When Burr commanded in the lines he was very severe. Morgan took a note from him to an officer of his regiment who quartered at Abraham Davis's to command him to whip [the bearer] and beat was severely and the order was executed by a brutal drummer to the letter. The officer it is said shed tears when he read the letter and conformed to his superiors command with great reluctance. Burr's Head-quarters were then at Youngs house"

Decr 9th Robert Miller: "I witnessed the battle of White Plains from Mount Misery, which my father then owned. After the battle part of the American army retreated through the fields along the Bronx to the heights near Moses Fowler's. After his affair with Mosier, Kipp retired through White Plains

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man named Holmes. A numerous and poor family was the result of this marriage who lived in North Castle in great misery. Holmes being a lazy, shiftless man. Before the Revolutionary war Ogden fought with Gilbert Hatfield of White Plains and got the better of him.

McCord’s Hill, where Tarleton was encamped for several days with his legion, is very near to Elijah Davis’s house.

General Sullivan was a very kind, good, gentle, man. His head quarters were at my fathers house where I now live.

General [George] Charles Clinton also had his head quarters at our house. He was a slow heavy man, and most of his affairs were transacted by his Aid-de-Camp, Major William Popham who was then a re= =markably active man of business.