much in view of the Movements of British-from that we was scatter'd to various parts-as for myself I was put to board at New Utrich where nine months and lived very well as the Family did― from thence was sent a 1⁄2 mile Further to make room for some British officers. This was at the time the British army was Retreating from Philadelphia. I was now at Rutgers Van Brunt who was the High Sherif-while there I Had a severe attack of the Billious Fever. I was confined ten days-as soon as I was able to go about I was removed from there to Mr. Ab'm Sniderkers at New Lots on the Jamaca Road about eight miles from the ferry and was very Comfortable situated-there I remain'd till the 28th Day of February when I obtain'd a parole to visit my family-the next day the first March commenced a very severe blustering snow storm and continued three weeks-all that Time I was detain'd-could not cross the Sound-at last the weather became moderate and I cross'd the sound with Capt. Brewster to Fairfield, Connecticut, and when I arrived at Salem at Esq'r Leggett's there I Found my wife and Child well and happy to meet again after eighteen months absence and the child eleven months old who is now the wife of Capt. J. Breath (45) and the mother of nine Children. While I was a Prizener I had very flattering offers if I would Join the British, or in otherwise would Take Protection and go into business in New York-my answer was, I have put my hand to the plow and cant look back-I shall Stand by my Country-We remain'd at my unkels Esq'r Leggett's till the last april-I then rented a small tenement of Cap't Jabes Trusedal at North Salem, and took an old Smithshop and went to work at my Trade. I Remain'd there till the next Spring 1778. I then rented a small farm of the commisioners of Sequestration and let it out on shares. In June my wife Rebecca was Confined with her second Daughter, Rebecca-the third Day she Expir'd- then I was left alone with two small Children-the oldest but twenty months. I soon broke up housekeeping and sold what few goods I had-my oldest Child Betsey I took to my aunt Leggett and the Infant I put to nurse to A Miss Hoxey who nursed with a bottle on Cows milk, In and kept her three and a half years till my second marriage. (46) In the year 1781 I was exchanged when a general Exchange took place by a resolution of Congress where there more of the rank than was requir'd-The senior officer had his choice to remain or retire on Half Pay for life and to receve all the emollements as if still in the ranks. In 1782 Major Jesse Brush was commission'd By Governor Clinton (47) to go on to Long Iland in a privite manner and endevour to obtain hard money on Loan for to supply some of the wants of the troops who was gratly suffering for the want of everything and our Paper money was nothing. Major Brush took myself with him-we remaind on the Island about three weeks In a privit manner. that time he arranged with several Persons for Specie and how to be convey'd over the Sound. One day while there I spent the Day at Solomon Smiths; who resided on the shore at the mouth of Smith Town Branch-the old man was a grate Tory-he was a widower with three daughters-fine girls and good whigs. I pass'd myself to the old man as a butcher From N. York looking for fat cattle and sheep— the old man had been plunder'd by both sides he told me and was grately distress'd and did not know what he should do for bread for the family. In the afternoon the old man rode out-the girls was fearful in the afternoon that they might be visited by Some of the refugees from Fort Slongum (48)-Advised me to retire up stairs till night for fear. In the evning I Join'd our party in the bush whare we was supplide with a good Repast by the hands of the Miss Smithsand that afternoon arrangements was enter'd with the Cap't of a Gard Vessel that lay in the harbour to let us pass with our boat as we was only a privit party with no hostile Intentions he gave us the Counter Sign and late in the Even'g we Road out of the harbour-by the time we got nearly 1/3 over the East wind increasing caused so much sea we found it necessary to Bare away for the Long Island shore with our whale boat, nine of us in her-we landed at a place four miles East from whare we set out call'd the north Swamp-as soon as we landed the only one in the company that knew whare to go was myself. I took T. Williams (49) with me to procure some Provisions about one to the widow Floyd's. I had been there before we was supplide with what we wanted and return'd to the boat which had been carried up in the edge of the bushes and turned bottom up, for it came on to rain and storm-about 4 o'clock it held up-three of our Party went on the hill under a chesnut tree. While there they was surprized by a party of refugee Torys they then rose over the hill close upon the rest of us. The day before we had presented to us several of Rivington Royal Gazette-Lieut. Ketchum was overlooking one and I was reading over his sholder when the stunning yell, "Surrender you Dam Rebels" and at the Instant fired a Voley down upon us—we all started for the Swamp not more than five or six Rods. I had not been more than seated in my mud and water seat than the Cry was "Here is the track of one" and another sung out the same from the voice I knew it was mine-the first one sung "out here is one"-"who is it"-"maj'r Brush." "Dont Hurt him" was the cry. I was Very Glad to hear that for as he was a very active man I had my fears. By this time the persuer on my track came in full view of me—at the moment he brought his gun from his right sholder on his left arm the bayonet fixt my thought was he then was a going to Sciver me. I determin'd in my mind to surrender at the instant he gave another long stride to another log which brought a bush between us as he made his step I was rising up but I soon crouch'd again-So they pass'd off-they then assembled around the boat-some went after a waggon and horses about a mile to the settlement and return'd with it, took the boat and what else there was and drove off. (50) I remain'd in my soft seat for I dare not stir for fear some whare left to watch the swamp-when it got quite dark I drew myself softly out of the mud and sneak'd across the Fealds to the house I had been at the night before and with the soft tap at the back part of the house window, it was not long before the window open'd-the girls saw my situation-all wet and muddy. Miss Floyd got her father's cloths-he was a small man and I considerable stouter. I had difficulty to get them on-when done I was present'd with a flask of Cherry Bounce-the Cordal came in good time. Then follow'd other refreshments-we then sat on the bed side a yong Lady on each side-they then Gave me the account of the refugeesthey was in the place some time, press'd waggon and horses, and with boisterous behavour and threats-from the girls I first Learnt that ketchum was Shot-after talking some time I was furnishd with a blanket and was waited upon by the Girls to Barn-when we came to the door Miss Floyd observed the Barn door was not fast on the out side as usal but Concluded some of the Party had been in after straw— after talking a while they bid me good night and fastened the Door on the outside as usal-as soon as they was gone and I turn'd myself round to get in the straw I was surprized to hear footsteps in the hay— the first thought that occur'd the refugees had got in before me—the Door not fast on the outside strengthend that Idea-all that I could do in that dillema was to show bold-therefore I hale'd boldly, who is there-by the answer the voice I new.* He replide, "is that you Leggett"-my answer, yes-his Reply, "God I am Glad"-So there was two glad―he being in his wet clothes I gave my Blanket and slepd in the straw very Comfortable till morning at an early hour the faithfull Girls came with a very good brecfast, Coffe, Toost, and Beef Stake, of the best, and plenty good soft Peaches. They staid and chatted till time to prepare for church about four miles at what is Call'd at head of the Branch-at there return, we was servd with dinner-they was so good as to spend a considerable of the afternoon— at Tea Time we was sarved in stile-In the coarse of the day there was dispatched one of the sons to see if Capt. Bruster was over-the answer was favorable, so in the Evening we was furnished with two horses and a guide to Conduct us to the place-we was Rec'd on board and by Daylight in the morning we landed at Black Rock, Fairfield, glad that we was on safe ground-not long before, we heard from the captives by some of there friends that went to see them. They express'd there joy that I was not with them For on there march to Fort Slongum they met Doct. True whom I had caused to be stop'd the winter before near Bedford-he drew his sword and to *The name of this person was Timothy Williams. show them How he would [have] serv'd me, he Cut and Hack'd the Bushes about Him-they said he had the appearance of a savage, and had I been there he would have put his threats in execution. ABRM. LEGGETT 2. The Montgomery and Congress. 3. Son of Bernardus Swartwout. Born Sept. 26, 1761, died Oct. 8, 1824, buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Tarrytown, N. Y. 12. The Dutch church, situated on what is now Fulton Street Brooklyn, between Hoyt and Smith streets. 17. Between Brooklyn and Governor's Island. Better known as the Jumel house, and now preserved as a historical relic, by the city of New York. 18. This was a lamentable defeat, due to the cowardice of the officers in the other boat. They were court-martialled therefor, and one, John Wisner, of the Orange county militia, cashiered. 36. Putnam was generally blamed for inattention to his military duties, which led to the capture of the two forts. John Adams, writing to his wife Feb. 21, 1777, says "Putnam, Spencer and |