02 2 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



the mean time the British bugle sounded to horse, and his enemies were 

 in full pursuit. On arriving at the Van Cortlandt house a vigorous 

 search was made for Armand, who was by this time far advanced on his 

 retreat to the Croton. 



On the Van Cortlandt estate is situated Indian bridge and field ; the 

 the former crosses Tippet's brook, the latter forms a portion of the Cort- 

 landt woods — an extensive range of woodland to the north-east of the 

 mansion. Both these places are memorable as the scene of a severe 

 engagement between the British troops and Stockbridge Indians, on 

 the 31st of August, 1778. 



The action is thus related in Simcoe's Military Journal: — 



"Lt. Col. Simcoe, returning from head quarters, the 20th of August, heard a 

 firing in front, and being informed that Lt. Col. Emmerick had patrolled, he 

 immediately marched to bis assistance. He soon met him retreating ; and Lt. 

 Col. Emmerick being of opinion the rebels were in such force, that it would be 

 advisable to return, he did so. Lt. Col. Simcoe understood that Nimham, an 

 Indian chief, and some of his tribe, were with the enemy ; and by his spies, who 

 were excellent, he was informed that they were highly elated at the retreat of 

 Emmerick'a corps, and applied it to the whole of the light troops at Kingsbridge. 

 Lt. Col. Simcoe took measures to increase their belief; and, ordering a day's pro- 

 vision to be cooked, marched the next morning, the 31st of August, a small dis- 

 tance in front of the post, and determined to wait there the whole day, in hopes 

 of betraying the enemy into an ambuscade ; the country was most favorable to it. 

 His idea was, as the enemy moved upon the road which is delineated in the plan as 

 intersecting the country, to advance from his flanks ; this movement would be 

 perfectly concealed by the fall of the ground upon his right, and by the woods 

 upon the left ; and he meant to gain the heights in the rear of the enemy, attack- 

 ing whomsoever should be within by his cavalry and such infantry as might be 

 necessary. In pursuance of these intentions, Lt. Col. Emmerick with his corps, 

 was detached from the Queen's Rangers and Legion, as Lt. Col. Simcoe thought, 

 full}' instructed in the plan ; however, he most unfortunately mistook the nearer 

 house for one at a greater distance, the names being the same, and there he posted 

 himself — and soon after sent from thence a patrol forward upon the road, before 

 Lt. Col. Simcoe could have time to stop it. This patrol had no effect, not meet- 

 ing with any enemy ; had a single man of it deserted, or been taken, the whole 

 attempt had, probably, been abortive. Lt. Col. Simcoe, who was half way up a 

 tree, on the top of which was a drummer boy, saw a flanking party of the enemy 

 approach. The troops had scarcely fallen into their ranks, when a smart firing 

 was heard from the Indians, who had lined the fences of the road, and were 

 exchanging shot with Lt. Col. Emmerick, whom they had discovered. The 

 Queen's Rangers moved rapidly to gain the heights, and Lieut. Col. Tarleton 

 immediately advanced with the Hussars and the Legion cavalry ; not being able to 

 pass the fences in his front, he made a circuit to return further upon their right ; 

 which being reported to Lieut. Col. Simcoe, he broke from the column of the 

 Rangers, with the grenadier company, and, directing Major Ross to conduct the 



