602 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



and again ambuscaded the cavalry in a position to take advantage of the enemy 

 if any party of them should pursue him, or from Valentine's hill should endeavor 

 to incommode his retreat. Observing the movement of the Yager cavalry, the 

 enemy marched a party to watch their movements, on the opposite bank, while 

 their main body formed the line. Captain Ross thought proper to wait for the 

 party that had crossed the Bronx. He permitted them to come close to him, 

 when his fire threw them into confusion; he then retreated, making a small cir- 

 cuit to avoid some riflemen who had occupied the wood, and the corps returned 

 to the camp."« 



A day or two preceding the battle of White Plains a large body of 

 British horse advanced upon the road leading through this place for the 

 purpose of reconnoitering. 



September, 1778, Sir Archibald Campbell, advanced with the 71st 

 regiment of the Scotch Highlanders, to Mile square. They were soon 

 after joined by General Grant, with another force of Highlanders who 

 occupied the ground from the Bronx at Hunt's Bridge to the North 

 River. During the whole course of the war, Colonel James de Lancey 

 kept a recruiting officer constantly stationed at Jones's house, in the 

 Mile square, as he always considered Mile square itself within the Brit- 

 ish lines. 



On the road leading from the Mile square to the city of Yonkers, are 

 still visible, the remains of an old hostel — the keeper of which was one 

 Gainos, a Frenchman. This individual, during the occupancy of Mile 

 square by the American forces, supplied the army with liquor and pro- 

 visions. On the approach of the enemy from New York, he chose to 

 retire with General Washington to White Plains ; shortly after the evacua- 

 tion of the premises by Gainos, his tenants left in charge were alarmed 

 by the midnight attack of a gang of British Cow-boys, a scuffle ensued, 

 during which one of the assailants was killed. 



In the retreat of the robbers, they pitched the headless body of their 

 slain comrade, into the adjoining well. This tragical event has given 

 rise to strange stories ; and has thrown over this spot a veil of horror, 

 which is heightened by the loneliness of the situation. Some benighted 

 countryman has construed the gnarled and fantastic cedars, (which sur- 

 round this spot), into the headless form of the cow-boy seated on the 

 well; and the sweeping blast, or gurgling brook, into his doleful groans. 

 The common people still regard this place with superstitious dread, no 

 one daring to approach it after dusk. 



Vale?itine , s hill, is a high ridge bordering the Mile square on the west; 

 its summit affords one of the finest views in Westchester county. To the 



a Slmcoe's Milit. Journal, p. 



