Weeks, Abraham
John M. McDonald interview — 1848-10-19
Abraham Weeks recounts how Captain Samuel Kipp of DeLancey’s Refugees fought a skirmish at Chappaqua and killed two American soldiers named Finch and Wardell who were on a scouting party from Bedford. Weeks’ mother saw and spoke to Kipp during this raid. He then describes how Captain Gilbert Totten of the Refugees swore revenge after being placed under a guard of Black soldiers of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment prior to the Battle of Pines Bridge. The account identifies Captain Totten’s disrespect and contempt for the Black soldiers by his use of degrading vocabulary. Weeks concludes by noting the discipline that was maintained in the French army during its time in Westchester County.
Original findings from this interview
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Transcription
[marg: Abr.m & Benjn Weeks — Lydia Vail — Mary Beagle — French civil — cut crowns and dollars for change — Ne= groes at Widow Griffen's and Mr. Montrosses — Rhode Island village.]
October 19th Abraham Weeks aged 82. of Somers:
"Once during the war Captain Samuel Kipp came up to Dickenson's near Chappequa with nearly one hun= dred men, and surprised an American scout there from Bedford, killing two and wounding and taking others. The names of the Bedford men that were killed at this time were Finch and Wardell. [Perhaps Wardell was the noted Partisan named Ward.] — My mother saw Captain Samuel Kipp as he passed by on this occasion and spoke to him.
When Totten was insulted at Pines Bridge just before the capture of Davenports House, he said at parting to the officer who commanded the guard: 'When I come up again it will be with a red flag, and after that
that niggers will be scarce! The Negro troops then lay near Pines-Bridge at Widow Griffen's and Mr. Montross's &c.
Strict discipline was maintained in the French army when it lay in this neighbourhood — officers and soldiers were alike civil. They paid for everything in hard money, and cut crowns and dollars in 1/4ths and 1/8ths for change, &c.