"General, while you were standing by a large tree during that battle,
how near to your head did a bullet come, which struck a little above
you?"
The General paused for a moment, and replied--"About two inches above
my hat."
Brant then related the circumstances. "I had remarked your activity in
the battle," said he, "and calling one of my best marksmen, pointed
you out and directed him to bring you down. He fired and I saw you
dodge your head at the instant I supposed the ball would strike. But
as you did not fall, I told my warrior that he had just missed you,
and lodged the ball in the tree." Conversation between Brant and
General Van Cortlandt--Stone's life of Brant, II., 460, incorrectly
located at the battle of Newtown.
[11] "Col. Cantine commanding a regiment of militia arrived during the
day. I then pursued but could not overtake him, as he ran through a
large swamp beyond the hill; and Col. Cantine being also in pursuit, I
returned, not having any prospect of overtaking him."--Col. Van
Cortlandt's statement, 1825.
[12] "The second day after, pursued my march to Fort Penn as ordered
by the commander-in-chief, and there received General Sullivan's
orders to make a road through the wilderness."--Col. Van Cortlandt's
statement, 1825.
[13] The present name of a stream flowing south-easterly two miles
south of Ellenville.
[14] On the Lurenkill two miles south of Ellenville.
[15] Present WURTZBORO in town of Mamacating on Sauthier's Map of
1779, said to have been named in honor of an Indian chief, is about
fourteen miles south-west of Wawarsing. A block house was here
occupied during the revolution.
[16] WEST BROOKVILLE, formerly called Bashusville, near the southern
line of town of Mamakating in Sullivan County. So called from a squaw
named Bashe, who lived on the bank of the creek. The first house built
was of stone and used as a fort.
[17] MAHACKAMACK or Neversink River, the crossing appears to have been
near Cuddebackville in the town of Deer Park.
[18] DEWITT--A brother of Mrs. James Clinton, the mother of DeWitt
Clinton; where he is said to have been born, March 2, 1769, while Mrs.
Clinton was on a visit with her brother. General James Clinton in 1763
raised and commanded a corps of two hundred men, called the Guards of
the Frontier. This position called Fort De Witt was one of the posts
occupied. Other accounts say he was born at the homestead of the
Clinton family at Little Britain.
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