hill (Chatterton's) near the bridge was my father. He was there during the battle of White Plains, and during the cannonade and firing, hid himself in the cellar of the house. A party of the British advanced from the South, an unexpected quarter and took the Americans by surprise and decided the battle. The British built a bridge over the Bronx during the engagement over which they crossed. This bridge was a temporary one."

Sept. 7th John Tompkins, of Greenburg: "My father Isaac Tompkins was a young married man in July and August 1781, when the French army encamped on our farm, and lived then in

a log house, a little north of my grandfather's John Tompkins. In that same month of July my mother had her first child. A French general (or officer) was about taking possession of our house for his quarters, but hearing of my mother's situation relinquished his intention and erected his marquée near the rocks north of the house and very close to it. This officer was very kind to my mother during her confinement; frequently sending her presents of wines and other delicacies (Dumas? Lamothe? &c?). A French general (I don't remember his name)

— it might have been de Deville — took my grandfathers house, which was a little south west of my father's, for his quarters and occupied it during the time they remained encamped at Greenburg. The French cannon were placed in the smooth field west of my house and of the old house, and where a ridge commences which runs towards Colonel Odell's. The

main body of the French was also en= camped west of our houses, Some of them were encamped (advanced guard?) on Underhill's ridge four or five hundred yards south or south west of our house The springs about our place supplied the whole French army with pure water, and they watered their horses at the Bronx. The strictest discipline was kept up among the French soldiery. Squads were posted on all sides for the protection of property so that the soldiers could not steal or destroy had they been so disposed. The French camp formed a good market where everything was paid for in hard money at the highest rate. A French general had his quarters at Gilbert Underhills about 400 yards south of our house. When they came, they advanced from the north west and cut a road through our wheat fields of which they were very careful, posting sentries all round for its protection. When

they retired, they marched the same way, — that is, by their right through the wheat field, and in the direction of Colonel Odell's, or a little west of his house. The farm of James Tompkins was near to and a little south of the French camp.

He was an uncommonly strong man and of a very irritable disposition. One day he found a French soldier riding a mare which belonged to him in company with others to the watering place, and ordered him to dismount. The Frenchman refused. He immediately seized the horse and dragged the rider off. The soldiers attempted to regain the horse, but he knocked or threw down everyone that approached him. They then made a great outcry calling out "Refugee! Refugee! and multitudes of comrades soon came to their assistance and surrounded James Tompkins, who drew a stake from the fence and for a long time defended himself — beating, and knocking down

all within his reach. Closing up on all sides the soldiers at last took him prisoner, and conducting him to Headquarters called upon General Rochambeau to punish him. Extremely exasperated the soldiers were very desirious he should be hanged. To gratify them Rochambeau kept him for some time under guard, and when he was released said to him: "You little man must never attack the French army again." He solemnly promised he would not.

The French general whose tent was near my father's gave a great entertainment while there, erecting a bower for the purpose on the large flat rock there (Dumas ?)

Another French general had his quarters at Mr. Gilbert Underhills, 400 yards south of our house. They slaughtered their cattle at a place between our house and the road in front, near which, and close to the lane that now leads from our

house to the road they built a round house of stone which has recently been removed by me. I don't know for what purpose they used it. There was once an alarm which proved false that the French artillery was fired at the aforesaid place where it lay, and the army all turned out. These facts I heard mostly from my mother. Her first child was born at the French camp, on (I believe) the 9th of July 1781. The French general at my [grand]fathers permitted the family to remain up stairs.

Septr. 7th. Jackson Odell — “ It was Acker’s slope (that is, smooth fields now owned by a family named Acker, and descending towards the Saw-mill river road just above Mr. Howland’s) where the Refugee horse