THE TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT. 553 



the City of New York about one year; that the barn of the said Joseph 

 Young was burned by the British refugees, who also took from the said 

 Joseph Young a large and valuable stock of cattle; that in the winter 

 of 1779, said dwelling-house and other buildings were occupied by the 

 said continental troops, under the command of Colonel Burr, and in the 

 spring of that year by Major Hull, (afterwards General and Governor of 

 Michigan) ; that in the winter of 1780 they were occupied by Colonel 

 Thompson of the American army, who then commanded the American 

 troops stationed on the lines ; that the prisoners and military stores be- 

 longing to said detachment were deposited in said buildings ; that on 

 the third of February, 1780, an attack was made on that post by about 

 1000 British troops and refugees, under the command of Colonel Nor- 

 ton ; the action commenced in the dwelling-house, and continued in 

 and about it until Colonel Thompson had lost, either in killed or 

 wounded, about 50 of his men, when he surrendered ; that immediately 

 thereupon the buildings of the said Joseph Young were burnt, by order 

 of the British commander ; that all the clothing, bedding and furniture 

 of the said Joseph Young were destroyed at that inclement season of the 

 year.* 



This spot is celebrated in the Westchester Spy, as the site of the 

 hamlet of the Four Corners ; whilst a little west of the present Van Wart 

 residence stood the " Hotel Flanagan, a place of entertainment for man 

 and beast." , In front of this imposing edifice, on a rough board sus- 

 pended from a gallows-looking post, was written in red chalk, 



"ELIZABETH FLANAGAN, HER HOTEL." 



This illustrious personage, (who is said to have invented the well- 

 known beverage vulgarly called " cock-tail,") was the widow of an 

 American soldier who had fallen in the service of his country. She ap- 

 pears to have gained her livelihood by driving a cart to the various 

 military encampments ; and as the Four Corners happened at this time 

 to be the headquarters of the Virginia horse, Betty Flanagan had emi- 

 grated thither with the troops. Here she was stationed when the law- 

 less Skinners dragged in the pedler spy. 3 



After Colonel Burr left the command of the troops on the lines, 

 in the year 1779, Colonel Thompson, a man of approved bravery, 

 assumed it, and fixed his headquarters at this place. " On the morn- 

 ing of the 3d of February, 1780, about nine o'clock, says General 



a American State Papers on Revolutionary Claims. Doc. 600, page 858. Joseph Young 

 had been exchanged but a short time previous to this event. He died in 1T89. Amer. State 

 Papers, Vol. XIX. Claims, p. 859. 



6 See Weetchester Spy, by Fenimore Cooper. 



