34^ HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



ANDRE'S CAPTORS' MONUMENT. 



A Monument Association has been organized in the village of Tar- 

 rytown, Westchester County, to perpetuate and keep in order the mon- 

 ument erected at that place to the memory of the captors of Major An- 

 dre. The incorporators are Messrs. N. Holmes Odell, A. R. Clark, S. 

 P. Swartwout, Jacob B. Odell, S. Requa, W. T. Lockwood, J. S. Millard 

 and H. E. Paulding. They have met and fully organized by electing 

 the following officers: President — A. R. Clark; Vice-President — J. B. 

 Odell; Secretary — W. T. Lockwood; Treasurer — J. S. Millard. The 

 marble monument which stands on Broadway, in the village, was dedi- 

 cated on the 23d of September, 1853, when Horatio Seymour was pres- 

 ent and took part in the ceremony, and Henry J. Raymond delivered 

 the oration. On the 23d of September next, the anniversary of the cap- 

 ture will be observed by the society with a centennial celebration. In 

 the meantime they will have the monument re-set, the grounds about it 

 cleaned up and otherwise improved. 



Beside the capture of Andre, there are several revolutionary incidents 

 which deserve to be noticed in connection with Tarrytown. One of 

 these was the surprisal of a large corps of British refugees, which took 

 place in the tavern of Elizabeth Van Tassel. Major Hunt, having re- 

 ceived intelligence of the advance of the party, at once determined upon 

 their surprisal, particularly as the late murderers of his brother were 

 known to be among the number. In company, therefore, with John 

 Archer, and a few volunteers, Major Hunt proceeded from Westchester 

 to Tarrytown, so arranging the march as to arrive in the vicinity of the 

 tavern about dusk. After darkness had fairly set in, Hunt, with his 

 party, surrounded the house: at this moment their unsuspecting enemies 

 were engaged in playing cards. Major Hunt, having armed himself 

 with a huge club, now gave the signal for the attack, when the whole 

 party simultaneously rushed in, headed by the Major, who exclaimed, as 

 he raised his weapon, "Clubs are trumps, gentlemen." During the des- 

 perate struggle that ensued, Archer attempted to kill several of the refu- 

 gees; and was only prevented from so doing by Major Hunt, who, arrest- 

 ing his arm, observed — " Sir, the highest sense of honor in a soldier is 

 to protect the lives of his prisoners." After a short but ineffectual re- 

 sistance, the refugees surrendered, and were led off in triumph to the 

 American quarters. 



In the summer of 1779, a strong detachment under the command of 

 Col. Emmerick, advanced upon Tarrytown so rapidly, that the Continen- 

 tal guard, quartered at Requa's house, were completely taken by sur- 

 prise ; four of them were killed upon the spot, and the remainder, con- 



