Here he was accosted by three men dressed in the uniform of British soldiers.
Their story is best told in their own words. Paulding, one of the three, said, when relating the capture:
“Myself, Isaac VanWart, and David Williams were lying by the side of the road about half a mile above Tarrytown, and about fifteen miles above King’s Bridge, on Saturday morning, the 23rd of September. We had lain there about an hour and a half, as near as I can recollect, and saw several persons we were acquainted with, whom we let pass. Presently one of the young men who were with me said:
“‘There comes a gentleman-like looking man, who appears to be well-dressed and has boots on, and whom you had better step out and stop, if you don’t know him.’
“On that I got up and presented my fire-lock at the breast of the person and told him to stand, and then I asked him which way he was going.
“‘Gentlemen,’ said he, ‘I hope you belong to our party.’
“I asked him:
“‘What party?’
“He said: ‘The lower party.’
“Upon that I told him: