THE "NEUTRAL GROUND' 



107 



the young men of the neighborhood, and patrolled the highways. 

 At the first approach of the enemy they were to give the alarm 

 and as they were equipped with the latest firearms, they hoped to 

 drive invaders off their lands. However, they were caught napping. 

 A party of British refugees got thru their lines unobserved, 

 and seized Leggett just as he was leading his favorite mare out of 

 the barn. Being unarmed he had to submit to their outrages. 

 They carried off the young mare, which had been a gift of his par- 



Indian Cave 



ents, along with the other property. Leggett was furious ; he threat- 

 ened to have the marauders hanged; but they only mocked him 

 as they went on their way. He followed them, however, hoping 

 to meet some of the Guards, but they all seemed to have vanished. 

 When the party reached the junction of what are now Tremont 

 Avenue and Boston Road, two Continental soldiers rose from be- 

 hind a stone wall and fired. The man leading the horse was shot 

 and he fell. The mare, finding herself free, took to her heels and 

 ran home, much to the delight of her owner. 



The County of Westchester contributed largely to the Ameri- 

 can cause. Versed in every hidden path of the region, the West- 



