[J. Thomas Scharf (1886)] ii. — 34 mile south of the present village. Unable with his meagre force to protect the place, McDougall set fire to the barracks and store-houses, and retreated two miles to a point2 commanding both the entrance to the Highlands and the road to Continental Village, and sent to Lieutenant-Colonel Mariuus Willet, at Fort Constitution,3 for assistance. Not able to carry away the stores, the enemy destroyed what was left. On the following day a skirmish took place not far from the Van Cortlandt mansion, near Cortlandtville. The enemy having possessed the village of Peekskill, a party of them, numbering about two hundred, the next day took position on a height a little south of the house, wfiere the advance guard of the Americans was posted. General McDougall having received a reinforcement from Colonel Gansevoort's regiment, of about eighty men, under command of Lieuten-ant-Colonel Willet, permitted them to attempt to dispossess the enemy from the eminence. Colonel Willet having accordingly made the necessary dis-position, advanced with his small party with the greatest firmness and resolution and made the attack; the enemy instantly fled with the greatest precipita-tion, leaving three men dead on the field; and the whole body, panic-stricken, betook themselves to their shipping, embarking under cover of the night.4 General McDougall then took possession of his former quarters.