Wood, James
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-11-18
James Wood (1762-1853) begins this interview by briefly discussing the Battle of Pines Bridge. He notes that the planks on Pines Bridge were taken up each night and then returned the following morning. Wood then recounts a skirmish when a force of Refugees under Captain Knapp came up to Clark’s Corner. A portion of the force continued on to Bedford, where it took off a number of cattle, and was pursued by a detachment of the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons (Sheldon’s Horse) under a Lieutenant Pool and a body of militia. Captain Knapp attacked and routed this pursuing party. Although Wood describes the mortal wounding of Lieutenant Pool, Thomas Pool, the only officer with this surname in the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, survived the war. Wood himself then notes that he was not sure whether or not the mortally wounded soldier was an officer nor not. Wood then explains that Captain Knapp was in the neighborhood of Clark’s Corner to cover a cattle drive, and that Wood himself was part of this drive. He describes the cattle drives, and notes that he had hoped to go to Morrisania so that he could be safe from the depredations of the Skinners, which he describes in detail. Wood also provides his impression of Loyalist Captain Samuel Kipp. He concludes by explaining that he returned to his home after a poor experience in the Refugee settlements at Morrisania.
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Transcription
from North Castle Church. We lived at Morrisani'a on the west shore, and Capt. Knapp on the east side of the Bronx.— There were a great many huts in the Refugee settlement. Capt. Gilbert Totten was popular.
Nov. 18th James Wood, aged 86, of Bedford, New Purchase: "I lived during the Revolutionary war in North now New Castle. When Colonel Green was killed part of the Refugees advanced to the Bridge, after waiting 'till the planks were laid which were taken up every night and replaced in the morning They then attacked the widow Griffen's about a quarter of a mile off. Here the negroes were cut up unmercifully— Refugees very bitter against them on account of Captain Totten. [Samuel]
In the Fall of 1780, Captain Knapp
came up to Clark's Corner with about sixty horse, where he halted and sent Captain or Lieut. Kipp on to Bedford with about twenty cavalry. Near Bedford village Kipp found a drove of about 120 fat cattle destined for the American army with the Continental mark or brand upon them. These he took, and attempted to drive off, but was soon followed by a detachment of Sheldon's horse under Lieut. Pool, and a body of militia that pressed him hard on his retreat.
Captain Knapp meanwhile having heard that a Continental force from New Jersey had landed at Tarrytown went in that direction to reconnoitre. During his absence a horseman came in at speed out of breath and his horse blown with intelligence that Kipp had seized a valuable drove of cattle which were in danger of being retaken by the enemy, and that unless immediate assistance was given the whole Refugee party would
be captured. Knapp soon after returned and with the rest of his force went to Kipp's assistance. Knapp charged Sheldon's horse and drove them back in confusion. Lieut. Poole took to an open field pursued by Charles Leggett, a private of DeLauncey's who called upon him to surrender. Looking back and seeing only one dragoon, Poole turned about, and aimed a blow at his pursuer which would probably have killed him if the sword had not turned in his hand, so that the blow took effect with the flat instead of the edge, inflicting upon his antagonist a bruise instead of a wound. Leggett instantly cut him in the sword arm, and before he could transfer his sword, wounded him in the other arm also. After being much cut, Poole surrendered, [and died] from loss of blood that night. (?)
About twenty or thirty of the cattle was driven into Morrisania and the rest were all retaken.
I think some of the Refugees were killed or wounded, and that no one of the Americans was killed but Poole.—
Clark's corner was about six miles from North Castle Church. [Mr Hyat says about five - that it was not called Clark's corner during the Revolutionary war, and was formed by the intersection of the Tarrytown and Bedford road with the White Plains and Pines Bridge road. It consists of three corners. The White Plains and Pines Bridge having joined the Bedford and Tarrytown road a quarter of a mile or more north of the corner.]
I don't know whether the man who fought with Charles Leggett was an officer or not. He was taken to Morrisania and died there (as I understood) the same night riding the horse down there on which he fought. I saw him as he rode with the blood flowing from his wounds. He held his hands clasped together, a man riding on each side of him. This skirmish
was fought about a quarter or half a mile west of Clark's corner on the road to Bedford. This place was not called Clark's corner in the Revolutionary war. It is or was in fact three corners formed by the Bedford and Tarrytown road and a road which branches off from this to the White Plains. I think the Refugees took no prisoners except Captain Moseman and the one that was wounded. Captain Knapp was up on this occasion by ap= -pointment to cover a drove of cattle going to New York. I joined this drove with some cattle belonging to the man I lived with. The drove was concealed in the hills and woods of Chappequa. We started in the night and went forward as fast as we could expecting every moment to be joined by Knapp, but Knapp didn't appear. We went on for Tarrytown and now began to be alarmed for our= -selves and cattle for it was daylight. All at once we heard the joyful cry: "There is
bottom out of a chair, placed it over a fire of coals and seated my father in the chair, in-tending he should sit naked, but he contrived to keep his breeches on. The pain was so great that he sprang up with five or six on his shoulders. &c. The Skinners were fright-ened thinking him dead &c.
Captain Kipp was a man of wonderful resolution and his enemies lived in great dread of him.
After I had been a few days at Morris-ania I found what a dissolute set they were and what wicked carryings on. I de-termined to return to N. C. [North Castle] al-though I might be whipped or tortured to death, and accordingly I returned.
[marg: Tarleton's circuitous route — Greene's domestic feelings — "Next Spring I hope to be with my family." — Two negroes wounded — one in the arm, the other in the shoulder — "you have ruined us!" said Flagg.]
Novr 19th Lydia Vail, aged 74: "I am grand-daughter of Richardson Davenport, and niece of Fanny Totten, but only two years