“Our conversation opened by reference to your resemblance to our ancestor Samuel, and by an easy transition fell upon the loves of our excellent aunts of Oyster Bay. Sarah Thorne has stated that Aunt Sarah was the magnet which attracted Winzingeroda. Mrs. Titus thinks this cannot be. Aunt Sarah she says, was beloved by every one, a polite way, you know, of insinuating that no one took her in the full meaning of the word. She thinks too that not Winzingeroda but a brother lieutenant, Ocksie, was the great admirer of Aunt Phebe; he wrote a piece of verse, it appears, on the loss of a bow of ribbon from her shoe.
“These gentlemen belonged to the corps of Yagers, which esteemed itself above the Hessians. Lewis deWurmb was the Colonel and commanded the Island. Mrs. Titus remembers seeing him frequently at her father-in-law’s at Westbury—She recollects a couple of officers besides lieutenants like the pair above—one of the name of Schoeffer, the other’s name was pronounced like our Shaker. Wurmb and all his officers were men popular with the islanders for their unassuming and courteous demeanour towards them. On the contrary, Simcoe and his Rangers, a corps composed of recreant Americans, were universally detested, especially the chief. The British troops were of course in great part withdrawn from the Island in summer to enter into active field operations. In winter Flushing used to overflow with troops—It was customary to detail daily a number to Bayside and the neighborhood, generally rejoining their respective corps at night in the village from fear of the whalers. Mrs. Titus remembers the 17th Light Horse, thirty or forty of whom would often come down to her father’s, turn their horses into his meadows, and invade and occupy the kitchen without saying a word. Once Joseph Lawrence presumed to remonstrate against their digging potatoes, and was peremptorily arrested and sent to learn better manners towards British Troops in Judge Hicks bars. Commonly the officers were polite, and it was by no means unusual for them to be invited to partake of the family dinner.
“The ‘Friends to the country’ were few—Joseph Lawrence and others of his name and family on the neck—the Townsends of Oyster Bay—Samuel and Dr. James particularly—and the Onderdonks at Hempstead or the Harbour. Whenever they used to hear of the escapes of their country men on the main they contrived to gather in each other’s houses, and find in their joy and mutual congratulations at such auspicious news some consolation for the hardships and the suspense they had to endure on account of their insulated position.
“Mrs. Titus remembers seeing Washington at three distinct periods. When he came through New York on his way to take command of the army. He landed at the Battery, and stepping into a sulky drove through ‘the fields,’ escorted by a few horse. Mrs. T. went with her father to the top of Beekman street to see him. He was dressed in a plain suit of drab. Her next sight of him was obtained in the same city a few days after the British troops evacuated the place. Her third and last she enjoyed at the time of the inauguration.”
[29] Before the first local history was printed J. Fenimore Cooper helped to immortalize in fiction, Sarah and her Valentine, in the closing chapter of The Spy.[(142)]
[30] This was not Major André’s first whispered conversation during which West Point was mentioned. Before he left “the Brown House” in East Hampton in August, where General Clinton had summoned him for a conference with Colonel Simcoe, during an animated conversation the fort was frequently mentioned. Servants in the house were listening and heard André say that “if he must go he would, but he did not expect ever to return.” A record of this conversation has been preserved in an unusual manner. Dr. Samuel Buell who was minister in East Hampton during the Revolutionary War obtained a pamphlet “Proceedings of a Board of General Officers ... respecting Major John André,” printed in 1780. At Buell’s death it was given to his grandson, John Lyon Gardiner, who perused it with great interest, for his recollections of André were vivid, having frequently seen him in Colonel Abraham Gardiner’s home. On bits of paper he began recording anecdotes and on the reverse of title of this pamphlet of “Proceedings” which was a blank page, in his own unmistakable handwriting he has left this remarkable statement. See [page 115]. A few whispered words to Major Davis and Mary Gardiner, wife of Colonel Abraham Gardiner, might have shared with Sarah Townsend in rescuing West Point and saving the American army.
[31] One of General Washington’s horses was kept in New York City at this time, for the purpose of speeding these messages. The General paid for its feed out of a secret fund, but kept receipts, which are still preserved. This is probably the first mention of the fact.
[32] Mr. James Anderson. James for John is not a typographical error. Although perhaps until now it has never been noticed, nevertheless it is so in the original in the Library of Congress.
[33] Washington Papers, Library of Congress, No. 20155, September 13, 1780.
[34] There would have been no harm in the messages reaching Arnold had he not been implicated. Recall of the messenger would clearly indicate that Arnold was suspected. Major Tallmadge had sufficient intelligence to convict him, but he did not choose to betray the confidence of the Culpers by producing it.