122 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



advanced guard, consisting of the Seventeenth light dragoons, the ground not 

 allowing more than sewn or eight in trout. The enemy did not stand the charge; 



ral route ensued. The difficulties of the eountiy, and there being no pos- 

 sibility of obtaining their rear, enabled the greatest partof the regiment to escape. 

 The pursuit o ntinued for four miles on the Stamford and Salem roads. The loss 

 of men in Sheldon's dragoons, upon enquiry and comparison of accounts, I esti- 

 mate at twenty-six or twenty-seven killed, wounded and prisoners.* But their dis- 

 grace in the loss of the standard of the regiment and of hemlets, arms and accout- 

 rements, was great. A part of the officers and regimental baggage fell into our 

 hands. I have hitherto omitted mentioning the militia to the amount of one hun- 

 dred and twenty, who, together with the Continental foot, broke and dispersed 

 at the appearance of the king's troops. The militia* assembled again on emin- 

 ences and in swamps, and before we quitted the ground on which the first charge 

 was made, they tired at great distances. We were successful in killing, wound- 

 ing and taking fifteen of them ; the rest hovered almost out of our sight. The 

 inveteracy of the inhabitants of Poundridge and near Bedford, in firing from 

 houses and out of houses, obliged (us; to burn some of their meeting and some of 

 their dwelling houses, with stores. I proposed to the militia, terms, that if they 

 would not fire shots from buildings, I would not burn. They interpreted my 

 mild proposal wrong, imputing it to fear. They persisted in firing till the torch 

 stopped their progress, after which not a shot was fired." 



With pleasure I relate to your excellency, that the loss sustained by his majes- 

 ties troops is trifling— one hussar of the legion killed, one wounded, one horse of 

 the Seventeenth dragoons killed. The whole of the detachment, except the 

 above, being returned to camp. The infantry of the legion, mounted on horses, 

 were extremely fatigued by a march of sixty-four miles, in twenty-three hours. 



I have the honor to be, &c., [Signed,] BANASTRE TARLEToX. 



Lt. Col. British Legion. 



The following additional particulars respecting this engagement, are 

 contained in a letter from an officer (of Col. Sheldon's regiment as sup- 

 posed) dated at Salem, July 3rd , 1779. 



''Yesterday morning about sunrise, a detachment of the second regiment of 

 tight dragoons, consisting of ninety men, commanded by Col. Sheldon, posted 

 near Poundrige meeting house, was notified of the advance of the enemy by our 

 videttes. Our horses being previously saddled and bridled, the men were or- 

 dered immediately to mount. As soon as we were paraded, the enemy's horse 

 were discovered rapidly advancing, about three or four hundred in number. 



The enemy having driven in our advanced parties, they began the charge on 

 the detachment, which, from the great superiority of the enemy, was obliged to 

 move off. The enemy pushed hard on our rear for more than two miles, in the 

 course of which, a scattering fire was kept up between their advance and our 

 rear, and a constant charge with the sword ; the country through which we passed 

 being very mountainous and rocky, caused many of our horses to blunder and 



a The prisoners he sneaks of, were mostly the neighboring inhabitants who took no part 

 In the affair. 

 6 Major Leavenworth commanded the militia. 



