THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH. 309 



l)e destined for his majesty's troops by their friends. This patriotic band 

 of seven had volunteered of their own account to go upon this expedition 

 the day previous, Sept. 2 2d, 1780. John Yerks, (who was still living in 

 the town of Mount Pleasant, in 1847, aged eighty-eight,) says that he pro- 

 posed this excursion to John Paulding, both of them being at that time 

 stationed in North Salem. The latter at first objected; but, upon further 

 consideration, volunteered his services, provided they could induce a 

 sufficient number to accompany them. This, Yerks assured him, could 

 be easily accomplished, and offered to procure the men; while Paulding 

 should obtain the necessary permit from the commanding officer. Yerks 

 had in the meantime enlisted three volunteers, viz. : Isaac See, James 

 Romer and Abraham Williams. Paulding soon after returned with the 

 permit, accompanied by his friend, Isaac Van Wart. The party now 

 consisting of six, took the direct road for Cross river. Here they were 

 joined by David Williams from Bedford. From Cross river they pro- 

 ceeded to Pleasantville, formerly Clark's Corner, where they halted for 

 the night. From a lady by the name of Mrs. Powell, (who had recently 

 arrived at this place from Morrisania,) the volunteers ascertained that 

 the British horse from Long Island, New Jersey and New York had ad- 

 vanced from the Island into the neighborhood of Boar hill, Yonkers. 



Whilst Andre slept at Crum Pond, our volunteers turned into a hay 

 barrack, (then standing a few yards from the present Methodist church,) 

 at Pleasantville. 



Up by times the next morning, the party followed the windings of the 

 Saw Mill valley to the house of Capt. Jacob Romer, where they obtained 

 breakfast and a basket well provided for their dinner. From this place 

 they marched to the hill immediately above Tarrytown. Here it was 

 agreed that three of the number, viz. : Paulding, Van Wart and David 

 Williams, should go below, whilst the remaining four should watch the 

 road above, with the full understanding, (according to Yerks,) that what- 

 ever might be taken should be equally divided among the whole band. 



The upper party were stationed two hundred yards east on the hill 

 above the lower party, the latter being concealed in the bushes near the 

 post-road. 



At Smith's trial, (which was by a court martial, and commenced the 

 day after Andre's examination, Paulding and Williams gave the follow- 

 ing testimony. Paulding said, "myself, Isaac Van Wart and David 

 Williams, were lying by the side of the road about half a mile above 

 Tarrytown, and about fifteen miles above King's Bridge, on Saturday 

 morning between nine and ten o'clock, on the 23d of September. We had 

 lain there about one hour and a half, as near as I can recollect, and saw 



