252 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



the train was to be fired, and they were to make their escape as they best 

 could in her boats. Lieutenants Wadsworth and Israel were the only 

 officers allowed to join the expedition, which was composed of a small 

 crew of picked men. The ' Intrepid' was escorted as far as prudent by 

 three vessels of the squadron, who hove to, to avoid suspicion, and to 

 be ready to pick up the boats upon their return ; the ' Constitution,' un- 

 der easy sail in the offing 



Many a brave heart could almost hear its own pulsations in those ves- 

 sels, as she became more and more indistinct and gradually disappeared 

 in the distance. They watched for some time with intense anxiety, when 

 a heavy cannonade was opened from the Turkish batteries, which, by 

 its flashes, discovered the ' ketch ' determinedly progressing on her deadly 

 errand. She was slowly and surely making for the entrance of the mole, 

 when the whole atmosphere suddenly blazed as if into open day. The 

 masts with all its sails shot high up in the air; shells wizzed, rocket-like, 

 exploding in every direction ; a deafening roar followed, and all sunk 

 again into the deepest pitchy darkness. The Americans waited — wait- 

 ed — in anxious — at last sickening suspense. Their companions came 

 not — the hours rolled on — no boat hailed — no oar splashed in the sur- 

 rounding darkness. The east grew gray with the dawn — the sun shone 

 brightly above the horizon, nought but a few shattered vessels lying near 

 the shore — the flotilla — the batteries — and the minarets of Tripoli gild- 

 ed by the morning sunbeams, met their gaze. Those noble spirits had 

 written their history. Whether consigned to eternity by a shot of the 

 enemy, prematurely exploding the magazine, or from the firing of the 

 train by their own hands, must always remain untold and unknown."* 



The United States brig 'Somers,' lost in a gale off Vera Cruz, 

 January, 1S47, was also named after this young hero. 



Under the Mohegan Indians, Somerstown formed an appendage to 

 the great territory of Amaghpogh or Ammawalk. In 1699, a deed for 

 this tract was executed by Sachima "Wicker, the chief of the Kightawonck 

 tribe, (within whose limits Amaghpogh was comprehended, ) to Stephanus 

 van Cortlandt. 



The principal Indian settlement appears to have stood upon the sum- 

 mit of a rocky ridge bordering the Croton river, on the lands of Gerard 

 Crane, Esq. Indian lodges also occupied the higher grounds and adorned 

 the romantic banks of the numerous streams intersecting this town. 

 In the woods of Ray Tompkins, Esq., situated upon the east side of 

 Angle Fly brook, are yet visible the remains of Indian habitations. The 

 Indian burying ground lies near Wood's bridge, at the junction of Plum 

 o SUliman'd Gali'Ji> among American Scenery. 



