114 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



as a military cantonment and rendezvous of Col. Sheldon's Regiment of 

 Light Dragoons. The regiment was engaged in frequent skirmishes 

 with the enemy and served as a protection to the Northern frontier from 

 the incursions of the Tories and British from below the lines in the 

 neighborhood of North Castle. It was for the capture of this regiment 

 that Sir Henry Clinton resolved on sending Col. B. Tarleton with a de- 

 tachment of the Royal Dragoons of the Seventeenth Regiment and a de- 

 tachment of about thiee hundred men on the night of July 2, 1779. 



The precaution of the Committee of Safety had placed a spy by the 

 name of Luther Kinnicut in the enemy's camp below the lines, who on 

 the day previous gave notice to Col. Sheldon of the intended attack in 

 a short time but did not know the precise day. The night proved stormy, 

 and the torrents of rain which fell would have retarded the progress of a 

 commander of less intrepidity than Tarleton. Sheldon apprehended no 

 danger on account of the storm. 



Col. Moylan's regiment was daily expected to join Sheldon ; and, 

 had the junction been effected before Tarleton's arrival — from the well 

 known bravery and courage of Moylan and his troops — the fate of 

 Tarleton would not have been less disastrous than he received from the 

 old Wagoner at the Cowpens. 



Sentinels were placed about a mile from the Major's, on the north and 

 the south roads leading to Bedford. The sentinels on the north road, 

 at early dawn descried a large body of dragoons under rapid move- 

 ment, who passed the junction of the road leading from Bedford to 

 Poundridge, and continued on toward Ridgefield. This mistake of the 

 enemy, in pursuing the Ridgefield road for half a mile or more, gave 

 time for the vedette to return and give the notice. 



Sheldon supposing it might have been Col. Moylan's regiment, who 

 were expected, dispatched Major Benjamin Tallmadge with a small 

 detachment to reconnoiter and bring back intelligence of the true state 

 of thii 



About halfway to the junction of the road, as Tallmadge ascended a 

 hill where the road turned to the right, from the uneveness of the ground 

 an object could not be seen, except at a very short distance ahead; and 

 at this place Tallmadge met Tarleton under full charge — wheeled and 

 returned at full speed with Tarleton at his heels ; while Sheldon, with 

 his command, were preparing to mount their horses, which were tied to 

 the fence on the east side of the road by the meeting-house. A general 

 rout ensued, while Sheldon's regiment moved off down the road leading 

 to Stamford for about three-fourths of a mile ; then separated at the 

 junction of the road leading to New Canaan, with Tarleton's dragoons 

 harrassing his rear — killing, wounding and taking prisoners some eighteen 

 or twenty. The enemy lost one killed, four prisoners, and wounded un- 

 certain ; one horse killed, and four taken. 



Among the prisoners captured by Tarleton, was Alsop Hunt, a son- 

 in-law of Major Lockwood ; who, after being rifled of a gold watch, 

 money, and other things of value about his person, was carried to New 

 York and lodged in the Provost prison. 



The pursuit lasted about four or five hours, when Tarleton, being un- 



