THE TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT. 56 1 



not have escaped. The old veteran further stated that he was then 

 on his way to obtain certificates for a pension. 



At the Four Corners, Thaddeus Kosciusko also fixed his head- 

 quarters, when the American army lay encamped in this vicinity.* From 

 Samuel Young the Corners passed to Isaac van Wart, one of the cap- 

 tors of Andre, who exchanged the original farm granted by the State 

 for this property. It is at present owned by his son, the Rev. Sandy 

 van Wart. 



In the south-east corner of this town is situated, upon lands of Wil- 

 liam Fowler, a gloomy cavern, commonly called Kettle Hole, near the 

 mouth of which rises a mineral spring. 



The settlement of the upper corners is situated three miles north of 

 the lower. Here stands the well known tavern of Isaac Twitchings, 

 whose name has conferred on the place the appellation of Twitching's 

 Corners. During one period of the Revolution, a Continental picket 

 guard was stationed here. 



On the 30th of August, 1779, Captain Hopkins, of Moylan's light 

 dragoons, together with a small detachment from Sheldon's horse, pro- 

 ceeded from their quarters in North Castle, to the vicinity of the upper 

 cross roads ; here they ascertained that Colonel Emmerick was advanc- 

 ing by way of White Plains. Emmerick himself having received similar 

 information of Hopkin's advance, had previously dispatched Colonel 

 Baremore, with a strong body of De Lancey's cavalry, directing them to 

 proceed by the way of Davis's brook, east of the upper cross roads. 

 Hopkins pursued another route, inclining west of Twitchings', passing 

 the residences of Mr. Avery and Colonel Hammond, where he posted a 

 strong detachment of light dragoons, under the command of Cornet 

 Pike, (afterwards General Pike) south of the Tarrytown road. He then 

 proceeded with the rest of his detachment, to meet Emmerick in person. 

 He soon perceived the enemy advancing with a small body of cavalry. 



Hopkins now retreated, leading Emmerick into his ambuscade sta- 

 tioned in Storms' s wood. The consequence of this sudden surprisal was 

 the destruction of the whole corps, with the exception of Emmerick and 

 a few dragoons. Twenty- three of the enemy were killed in this en- 



a Near the blacksmith's shop, (on the road leading from the Corners to White Plains,) a duel 

 Was fought between General Gates and Colonel Wilkins, September 11, 1T79. Two shots, says 

 Thacher, were exchanged without bloodshed, and a reconciliation was effected. The gentle- 

 men, it is said, displayed a firmness and bravery becoming their rank and character, and have 

 established their claim to the title of gentlemen of honor, &c, &c. Thacher's Military Jour- 

 nal, p. 145. 



In this neighborhood resided the noted Brom Boyce, "who at the early age of sixteen, en- 

 rolled himself among the minute men of the American army. He was soon distinguished for 

 his bravery and daring, and was recognized as the best guide to be procured in this vicinity." 

 "Boyce, after the Revolution, followed the business of a carman in the city of New York. 

 He was a member of the Bedford Street church about thirty-five years, and died in 1839, aged 

 eighty-two years. His remains were interred at Tarrytown."— Noah's Sunday Times. 



