November, 1776, to September, 1783 155 



Lord Rawdon, afterwards famous in the southern eampaign 

 for his defeat of Gates at Camden. From this outpost, fre- 

 quent patrols were made to the vicinity of Yonkers and beyond 

 and towards the Mile Square and Valentine's Hill. At the 

 Mile Square, De Lancey kept a recruiting officer at all times. 

 Upon one occasion in 1777, a band of Americans came near 

 falling into an ambuscade near Williamsbridge ; but a young 

 girl saw the movements of both sides and cautioned the Ameri- 

 cans by waving to them from an upper window of her house. 

 On these excursions, the yagers generally took along a couple 

 of light three-pounder field-pieces called amusettes. 



These patrolling parties, gathering up recruits, cattle, hay, 

 and what not, as well as looking out for the enemy, did not 

 always come and go unmolested; for Sheldon's dragoons, 

 Major Harry Lee, or the fiery and impetuous Frenchman, 

 De Armond, with his corps of compatriots, were often lying in 

 wait for the British; and as the Valentines, Corsas, Hadleys, 

 and other families of the neighborhood were patriots, timely 

 notice of the British movements was sent to the American 

 commanders on the lines, while the informants, acting as 

 guides, led them to convenient spots where the marauders could 

 be intercepted. Andrew Corsa and the Dyckmans became 

 famous as Westchester guides; nor must we forget Enoch 

 Crosby (the Harvey Birch of Cooper's The Spy), whose fav- 

 orite route between the lines was by way of the Mill Brook 

 valley at Morrisania. 



In the summer of 1777, Lord Cathcart commanded in the 

 neighborhood of Kingsbridge, with Emmerick's Chasseurs, 

 the Queen's Rangers, and the partisan bands of Hovenden, 

 James, and Sandford. De Lancey 's headquarters were at the 

 manor-house at Morrisania. He was a special object of in- 

 terest to the Americans, and many attempts were made by 



