Smith, Caleb
John M. McDonald interview — 1845-10-03
Caleb Smith (1773-1858) was the husband of Hannah Dyckman, who was the sister of several men who served in the Revolutionary War, including Westchester Guide Abraham “Brom” Dyckman. Smith recalls a skirmish when a force of Refugees surprised an American force at Lent’s Hill in Yonkers, as well as an engagement in which a party of Americans were pursued by Refugee cavalry and overtaken south of Lent’s Hill. (A note added by John Macdonald refers to the latter engagement as “Colonel Hatfield’s affair of December 16, 1781.”) Smith concludes with a reference to “Post’s house,” which was located between Philipse Manor Hall and Hunt’s Bridge, and was occupied by a Major Ross during “Gist’s surprise,” the attack on the American force commanded by Colonel Mordecai Gist at Yonkers on September 16, 1778.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
1845. 53.
October 3d. Caleb Smith of Yonkers on the Tuckeyhoe road brother in law of the Dyckmans of Kingsbridge. "I remember there was a party from above surprized by the British Refugees at Lent's hill on the Tuckeyhoe road when several of the Americans were killed or taken.
Also at another time a party of Americans had been below and were pursued and overtaken about daybreak at William Underhill's about one and a half miles South
1845. [marg: + B] occupied by Major Ross & on Gists surprise is now owned by Mr.
- October 3d. Joseph Odell of Grenburgh on the Saw-Mill River Road: "I was born in the year 1766 and remember well the Battle of White Plains. When the Cannonade commenced I went on the hill in rear of my father's house a few rods south of where I now live to try if I could get a sight of the troops, when an armed man came out of the bushes, took me, and questioned me about the firing, what it meant &c. I told him I did not know. &c. I then discovered the man to be Capt. (afterwards Colonel) Daniel Williams who was concealed with his company in woods and thickets. The day was remarkably warm and fine."