Vice-President, which office he held at the time of his death. He died after a short illness, at the residence of his son Abraham A. Leggett, in the city of New York, on the sixteenth day of January, 1842, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. His remains, followed by a large concourse of sincere mourners, were conveyed to the Presbyterian burying-ground in Houston street, where they were interred with every mark of honor and respect.

At the request of his children, Major Leggett, in the latter part of his life, commenced writing out a narrative of his Revolutionary services. This however, he did not live to complete. The part which is extant, and which we here present to the reader, though faulty in orthography, the result of his defective education, is nevertheless worthy of preservation. As a narrative of a sufferer in the British prisons in our city, it is not only interesting but valuable, and it is equally so as the record of one who was not only a cotemporary, but a prominent actor in the memorable struggles of the "times that tried men's souls."

CHARLES J. BUSHNELL

NARRATIVE

WAS born Jan'y 3d, 1755. My father John, (1) the son of William joined a Company of Volenteers and march'd for Canaday in the year 1759-they Proceeded as far as Lake George and there he was Taken with the Fever and died within four days, in the year 1762-my mother left West Farms and moved to Newtown, Long Island, with four children-one sister older than myself and Two younger and a younger Brother. My Grand Father Capt. William Leggett had a desire to have me left with him. I at this Time was about Seven years of age-my Grand Father died in 1764 or 65-I then Remained with my uncle Abraham till I was fourteen years old. I was then put apprentice to Phenas Hunt, Blacksmith-there I had but a Poor opertunity to get the trade for I was put to the Farming more than Shop. I grew dissatisfide and aplyde to my Gardian my uncle A, that I had no Prospect for larning the trade being kept mostly on the farm. In July my Indenture was given up, after serving him three years for my vittels and a very scant supply of clothes: In August I came to New York and put myself apprentice to Sam'l Van Black, Black-smith—this was in the year 1772. I was then at the Jan" following eighteen, and agreed to stay with him four years, but in '75 the Troubles with England commenced, and nothing to be done, and I had an oppertunity to get in public service. I agreed to go on to Pokipsey and do work on the two frigates (2) that was to be built there by order of the Continal Congress then sitting in Philadelphia. On the first of Febru'ry 1776 several that was Engaged and walk'd to Pokipsey eighty-three miles-there I was Engadg'd Till the first July. I then with several others formed ourselves in a company under the command of Barnardus Swartout (3) all Vollenteers-the times began to appear very Interesting the British Fleet and large army was at Staten Island (4)- -we march'd off in high spirits till we got to the Calder-barrack near the Croton River-there we staid but three days for derectionwe then had news that English army was preparing to land on

Long Island (5)-that they easy effected under the protection of Shiping our army was at this Time on Brooklin Hights* fortifying as fast as they Could-the Enemy advanced upon Part of our army under the com'd of Lord Stirling (6) and General Sullivan (7) they faught on the Retreat to Flatbush Hills. (8) There the battle became Very Hot but the Enemy was too powerful-they extended there write wing so as to cut off the retreat of our detachment from the main army, which they succeeded in and they kill'd and captured many, amongst them was several officers and the Two Gen❜ls—many was Drownded in the mill Pond. (9) This took place 28th August 1776 (10)—the next day the 29th, Capt. Swartout crossed with us to the Island and we was placed on the left from the Hill call'd Fort Greene (11) to Wallabout-the two armies close in view of each other, and for three Days the Rain fell in Torrents so that we could not Cook-then was the first Time I was Brought to eat Raw Pork—the last night we was on the Island myself and Several of Volunteers was put on advanced Centres* with speshel orders how to behave should we discover the Enemy advancing the night was Foggy & very dark. Some circumstance made all the Centres return on the lines but myself-my Remaining at my station was imputed to bravery. Early in the morning yet very dark we was Paraded under the Report that we was to attack the Enemy in their lines. We was Led around we new not where till I Saw the old stone Church of Brooklin (12)— then an officer riding by Says a groce mistake—we was orded to wheel about and reman the lines, wich we did a dangerous attemptthere we remaned till some Time after-we then formed the Rear Gard we was orderd forward, still expected to meet the Enemy till we found ourselves at the Ferry and the army all cross'd (13). But the Gard then under the Command of Gen'l Mifflin (14)—we then was order'd to choak up the Street with waggons and Carts to Prevent the Light Horse from Rushing Down upon us at this time no boats-I prepar'd myself to Swim the River flood tide But fortunately two

*A battery of eight guns was constructed here. *Sentries

Battoes struck the Shore-by this Time there was but a few of us left-we all hurred on board and Shoved off-the Enemy Rush'd down on the Hill and Commenced a brisk fire. Fortunately no one

was hurt in our Boat-the other Boat had four wounded-we remaned in the town two days then our Capt. march'd us up the Island to near King's Bridge-after our army had all cross'd the Enemy was Preparing for further operations. Two frigates came threw the Buttermilk Channel (15) and came to anchor off Turkel & Kips Bay to cover the landing of there army from Long Island-at this time our troops was retreating up York Island—the Enemy advancing till Harlem Hills-there our troops gave battle (16)—the Battle was Severe for a Time. I was at the Morris House (17) when Major Henley (18) was brought in mortally wounded, who soon expir'dwe Repulsed the Enemy and kept the Ground for a time-it was soon found that the Enemy was preparing there Flotilla for the SoundGen. Swartout, was orded to move off the Island and take post on Tippet's Neck on the East Side of Spitendevil (19)—at this Time I Got liberty to visit West Farms-when I Got there I saw the whole River from Hellgate to Flushing Bay Cover'd with Crafts full of Troops, and my unkel's family moving off at this Place Colonel Hand with his Rifle Reg't was station'd-as soon as I Got Back to the Company I was order'd with a small Escort to procure teams to move off our Stores and Baggage-the next day we arrived at the White Plains the British Landed and was in New Rochelle-they moved on to near the Plains when Gen'l McDougal (20) engaged them at Chatterton Hill (21) and there he kept the Ground-the Battle was severe (22)-the next day Capt. Van Vike of Fish Kill with a small party took the road towards Marroneck and fell in with a Party of English Horse and exchang'd firing when our Capt. Rec'd a ball in the Head by the hat Band-they was too many for us, but we bore off our Capt. and hid him in the thicket and the next morning we went down and Bro't him off and buried him at this time the English army was filing off to the left To the attack of Fort Washington (23)

†Turtle