THE TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT. " 559 



By a messenger from him, Col. Burr was informed by that general that he had 

 been obliged to retreat, and that the enemy were advancing into Connecticut. 

 This information, which unfortunately was not correct, altered Col. Burr's route 

 towards Mamaroneck, which enabled Tryon to get the start of him. Col. Burr 

 then endeavored to intercept him in East Chester according to his first plan, and 

 actually got within cannon shot of him. But Tryon ran too fast ; and in all haste, 

 left most or all of his cattle and plunder behind him, and many stragglers who 

 were picked up. 



I will mention another enterprize which proved more successful, though equally 

 hazardous. Soon after Tryon's retreat, Col. De Lancy, who commanded the 

 British Refugees, in order to secure themselves against surprise, erected a block 

 house on a rising ground below De Lancy's bridge. This, Col. Burr resolved to 

 destroy. 1 was in that expedition, and recollect the circumstances. He pro- 

 cured a number of Grenades, also rolls of port fire and canteens filled with in- 

 flammable material, with contrivances to attach them to the side of the Block 

 House. He set out with his troops early in the evening, and arrived within a 

 mile of the block house by two o'clock in the morning. The Colonel gave Capt. 

 Black the command of about forty volunteers who were first to approach, twenty 

 of them to carry the port fires, &c, &c Those who had hand grenades had 

 short ladders to enable them to reach the port holes, the exact height of which 

 Col. Burr had ascertained. Col. Burr gave Capt. Black his instructions in the 

 hearing of his company, assuring him of his protection if they were attacked by 

 superior numbers ; for it was expected that the enemy, who had several thousand 

 men, at and near Kingsbridge, would endeavor to cut us off as we were several 

 miles below them. Burr directed those who carried the combustibles to march 

 in front as silently as possible ; that on being hailed, they should light the hand 

 grenades, &c, with a slow match, provided for the purpose, and throw them in- 

 to the port holes. I was one of the party that advanced. The sentinel hailed 

 and fired. We rushed on — the first hand grenade that was thrown in drove the 

 enemy from the upper story, and, before they could take any means to prevent 

 it, the block house was on fire in several places. Some few escaped and the 

 rest surrendered, without onr having lost a single man. Though many shots 

 were fired at us, we did not fire a gun. During the period of Col, Burr's com- 

 mand, but two attempts were made by the enemy to surprise our guards— in both 

 of which they were defeated. 



After Col. Burr left this command, Col. Thompson, a man of approved brav- 

 ery, assumed it ; and the enemy, in open day, advanced to his head-quarters, 

 took Col. Thompson and took, killed and wounded all his men with the exception 

 of thirty. My father's house, with all his out-houses, were burnt. After these 

 disasters our troops never made an effort to protect that part of the country. 

 The American lines were afterwards changed and extended from Bedford to 

 Croton Bridge, and from thence, following the course of that river, to the Hud- 

 son. All the intermediate country was abandoned and unprotected ; being about 

 twenty miles in the rear of the ground which Col. Burr had maintained. The 

 year after the defeat, Col. Thompson, (a brave, and in many respects a valuable 

 officer, ) took the command ; making his head-quarters at Danf ord's, about a 

 mile above the Croton. The position was well chosen ; but Col. Greene omitted 

 to inform himself of the movements of the enemy, and, consequently, was sur- 



