[J. Thomas Scharf (1886)] "No one shewed more zeal at this time of alarm than Colonel Van Cortlandt, of an old colonial family, which held its manorial resi-dence at the mouth of the Croton. With his regi-ment he kept a dragon watch along the eastern shore of Tappan Sea and Haverslraw Bay."6 From Peekskill he was sent to Bergen, and after a skirmish there with the enemy took command at White Plains. His duty here was exceedingly severe, being surrounded by a force treble in number to his own, but he ken them at bay, and effectually guarded the neutral ground. The army left for Philadelphia, and Colonel Van Cortlandt, in command of the Second and Fourth New York Regiments, was ordered to relieve Port Stanwix, now besieged by St. I.eger, aided by an In-dian force under Brant. The fort, commanded by General Peter Gansevoorij was invested, but a sally was made, resulting in the battle of Oriskany and Colonel Willett putting the ^Colonel Ilu/cii liail twen arrested l>y Arnold, foniiwilimliriii-i-loonier*. :' Munnsi ri|it jouriml of Philip Van Cortland!, pnlditdied in " Aim* ri call BfftjKMliie of Blatory," May, is7s. " "Hlatorj nt WtabJngtoa," i » v w. li ving, vol a. CORTLANDT. enemy to ilight. A relief party had been sent by Arnold and the enemy withdrew to Canada. Colonel Van Cortlandt now rejoined the brigade of General Poor, encamped at Stillwater, and on the 17th of September a severe engagement came off.