558 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHES I 



tinels, having taken a secret path through the fields for that purpose. For uihs 

 violation of orders the young man was punished. The Colonel immediately 

 took measures for the detection of the plunderers; and, though they were all 

 disguised and wholly unknown to Gedney, yet Col. Burr, by means which were 

 never yet disclosed, discovered the plunderers, and had them all secured within 

 twenty-four hours. Gedney's family, on reference to his register, appeared to 

 be Tories; but Burr had promised that every quiet man should be protected. 

 He caused the robbers to be conveyed to Gedney's house, under the charge of 

 Capt Benson ; there to restore the booty they had taken ; to make reparation in 

 money for such articles as were lost or damaged ; and for the alarm and abuse, 

 the amount of which the Colonel assessed ; to be flogged ten lashes, and to ask 

 pardon of the old man. All which was faithfully and immediately executed. 

 These measures gave universal satisfaction ; and the terror they inspired effectu- 

 ally prevented a repetition of similar depredations. No further instance occured 

 during the time of Col. Burr's command. 



The measures adopted by him were such that it was impossible for the ene- 

 my to have passed their own line without his having immediate knowledge ; and 

 it was these very measures which saved Major Hull, on whom the command de- 

 volved for a short time, when the state of Col. Burr's health- compelled him to 

 retire. 



These measures, together with the deportment of Col. Burr gained him the 

 love and veneration of all devoted to the common cause; and conciliated even its 

 bitterest foes. His habits were the subject of admiration. His diet was simple 

 and spare in the extreme — seldom sleeping more than one hour at a time, with- 

 out taking off his clothes, or even his boots ; he was on a blanket or a mattress, 

 before the fire. Between midnight and two o'clock in the morning, accompanied 

 by two or three of his corps of horsemen, he visited the quarters of all his cap- 

 tains and their picket guards, changing his route, from time to time, to prevent 

 notice of his approach. You may judge of the severity of this duty, when I 

 assure you that the distance he thus rode, every night, must have been from six- 

 teen to twenty-four miles; and that, with the exception of two nights only, in 

 which he was otherwise engaged, he never omitted these excursions, even in the 

 severest and most stormy weather. Except the short time necessarily consumed 

 in hearing and answering complaints and petitions from persons both above and 

 below the lines, Col. Burr was constantly with the troops. He attended to the 

 minutest article of their comfort, to their lodgings, and to their diet ; fo: 1 those 

 off duty, he invented sports — all tending to some useful end. 



During two or three weeks after the Colonel's arrival we had many sharp con- 

 flicts with the robbers and horse thieves, who were hunted down with unceasing 

 industry. In many instances, we encountered great superiority of numbers, 

 but always with success. Many of those were killed and many taken. 



The strictest discipline prevailed, and the army felt the fullest confidence in 

 their commander and in themselves, and by these means became really formid- 

 able During the same winter, Gov. Tryon planned an expedition to Horse- 

 neck, for the purpose of destroying the Salt Works erected there, and marched 

 with about two thousand men. Col. Burr received early information of their 

 movements, and sent word to Gen. Putnam to hold the enemy at bay for a few 

 hours ; and he, Col. Burr, would be in their rear and be answerable for them. 



