534 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



ami Snake-hill, — from the batteries at llarlem and from the ships of war at an- 

 chor in the river, was terrible and incessant ; and obeying the instinct of self-pre- 

 servation, which became suddenly predominant — he urged his horse foward at 

 full speed and rode for safety behind the old Morrisania mill. Here he pulled 

 up, and looking back, saw Washington, Rochambeau, and the other officers riding 

 along calmly under the fire as though nothing unusual had occurred. His self- 

 posession now returned ; and, ashamed at having given way to an impulse of fear, 

 he at once pricked back with all the rapidity to which he could urge his horse, 

 and resumed his place in the order of march ; while the commanding officers, 

 with good natured peals of laughter, welcomed him back and commended his 

 courage. 



Mr. Corsa knew personally every individual of that celebrated band of volun- 

 teers called the "Westchester Guides," of whom he himself was the last and 

 youngest ; and he was among the most confidential friends of the heroic Abraham 

 Dyckman, who fell prematurely at the close of the revolutionary contest. Pos- 

 sessed of a memory unusually retentive, and residing constantly upoii the borders 

 of the "neutral ground," he was acquainted w r ith all the distinguished partisans 

 both from above and below T , and with nearly all the military operations whether 

 great or small that occurred along this portion of the British lines ; and which, 

 until within the last few days of his life, he continued to describe in minute de- 

 tail. 



Upon the conclusion of the revolutionary war, his father's lands, by a compul- 

 sory sale, passed out of the family ; and although without any means at the 

 time, he did not hesitate to purchase, with money borrowed upon mortgage, a 

 contiguous farm — which industry and good management enabled him, not many 

 years after, to disencumber. Much engaged in the cultivation of fruit for the 

 market, he was particularly successful with the apple and pear ; discovering 

 and bringing into use a new variety of the latter which bears his name, being 

 known distinctively as the Corsian Vergaloo. 



For many } T ears he was a member of the Reformed Dutch Church at Fordham. 

 His death was preceded by none of the diseases to which humanity is heir, and 

 he ceased to exist only because he was worn out by toil and time. The machine 

 which had been set in motion by its divine constructor and which had gone on 

 for more than four score years and ten, "at last stood still," and the weary 

 occupant sought a better habitation. His memory continued unimpaired until 

 nearly the close of his existence. Among his survivors are eight children, and 

 numerous other descendants. Simple and patriarchal in his manners, a zealous, 

 generous, and useful friend, neighbor and citizen; — estimable and upright in all 

 the relations of life— Andrew Corsa deserves to be held in honorable remem- 

 brance. 



