306 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



variety of topics. Smith professes to have been astonished at the sud- 

 den and extraordinary change which appeared in him, from a gloomy 

 taciturnity to an exuberant flow of spirits, pleasantry and gay discourse. 

 He talked upon poetry, the arts, and literature; lamented the war, and 

 hoped for a speedy peace."* As they passed Major Strang's house, two 

 miles below Yorktown church, they were observed by its inmates, who 

 supposed them to be Continental officers. "In this manner they passed 

 along without being accosted by any person, till they came within two 

 miles and a half of Pine's Bridge. At this place Smith had determined 

 to end his journey in the direction of White Plains. The Cow-boys, 

 whom he seemed anxious to avoid, had recently been above the bridge, 

 and the territory below was considered their appropriate domain. The 

 travellers partook of a frugal breakfast together, at the house of a good 

 Dutch woman, who had been plundered by three marauders, but who was 

 yet enabled to set before them a repast of hasty pudding and milk. & - 

 This being dispatched, Smith divided his small stock of paper money 

 with Andre, took a final leave, and, with his servant, hastened back to 

 Peekskill, and the same evening to Fishkill, where he had left his family 

 four days before, at the house of his brother-in-law. On his way, he 

 took the road leading to Robinson's house, where he called on General 

 Arnold, and dined. He gave an account of Andre's progress, and men- 

 tioned the place where he had left him, with which Arnold appeared well 

 pleased. It is to be understood, however, that Smith had not, at this 

 time, as he always affirmed, any knowledge of Andre's true character, 

 and that he supposed his name to be John Anderson. 



The Cora-boys were a set of people, mostly, if not wholly, refugees, 

 belonging to the British side, and engaged in plundering cattle near the 

 lines, and driving them to New York. The name indicates their voca- 

 tion. There was another description of banditti, called Skinners, who 

 lived, for the most part, within the American lines, and professed attach- 

 ment to the American cause; but, in reality, they were more unprinci- 

 pled, perfidious and inhuman than the Cow-boys themselves; for these 

 latter exhibited some symptoms of fellow feeling for their friends, — 

 whereas, the Skinners committed their depredations equally upon friends 

 and foes. 



By a law of the State of New York, every person refusing to take an 

 oath of fidelity to the State was considered as forfeiting his property. 

 The large territory between the American and British lines, extending 



a Ibid. 217. 



b This was not a Dutch woman, as the historian supposes ; but Mrs. Sarah Underbill, wife 

 ■of Isaac Underbill, of Yorktown, whose grandson, Edward Borough Underbill, still owns the 

 nouse.— Editok. 



