6S4 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



not much mistaken — before he had time to reach his pistols, which were placed 

 near the foot of the bed. The ball passing through his head, he fell forward upon 

 the bed and there continued ; the enemy breaking into the room, found him in 

 that situation— and thinking him to be sullen, gave him several cuts in the back 

 with their broad-swords — but he was probably out of the reach of their unmanly 

 rage, having <■: pired the instant he received the ball. His remains were attend- 

 ed to the church-yard in Crompond, by the officers of the regiment and a respect- 

 able number of the inhabitants, and decently interred with the inhumanly man- 

 gled corpse of his Colonel. "« 



The news of DeLancey's movement reached Washington, at West 

 Point, about six hours after Colonel Greene's surprisal — too late to be of 

 any service, as appears by the following : — 



" May 14th, about noon intelligence was received from Gen. Paterson, of West 

 Point, that the amity were on the north side of Croto/i River in force ; that Col. 

 Qreene, Major Flagg, and some oilier officers, with forty or fifty men, were sur- 

 prised and cut off at the Bridge, and that Col. Scammell, with the New Hamp- 

 shire troops had marched to their assistance. I ordered the Connecticut troops 

 to move and support those of New Hampshire. In the evening information was 

 brought that the enemy, consisting of about sixty horse and one hundred and 

 forty infantry had retreated precipitately. May 16th, went to the posts at West 

 Point ; received a particular account of the surprise of Col. Greene, and the loss 

 we sustained, which consisted of himself and Major Flagg killed, three officers 

 and a surgeon taken prisoners, the latter and two of the former wounded ; a ser- 

 geant and five rank and file killed, five wounded and thirty-three made prisoners 

 or missing ; in all forty four, besides officers. 



In Rivington's Gazette of May 16th, it is said that the party who 

 made the attack, marched from Morrisania under the command of Col. 

 De Lancey, and consisted of about one hundred cavalry and two hun- 

 dred infantry."'' 



Upon the same day that Washington visited the outposts at West 

 Point, he thus addresses the President of Congress : — 



GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. 



New Windsor, 17xn Mat, 1781. 



Sti: r — I am sorry to inform your Excellency, that a part of our advanced 

 troops wen- surprised on Monday morning mar Croton River, by about sixty 

 horse and two hundred foot, under the command of Colonel DeLancey. Colonel 

 Greene, who commanded bur party, was mortally wounded in his quarters. The 

 enemy attempted to carry him off, but he died upon the road. Major Flagg was 



■ied from the original, in the possession of ihe late John Ward, Esq., of Bond street, 

 New York, which was presented to Mr. K- R, Ward of New York, by Mrs. Bowen, daughter 

 of the b Henry Ward. 



6 Spark's writings of Washington, Vol. VIII., p— is. 



