[J. Thomas Scharf (1886)] Military History and Incidents. — The terri-tory now included in the town of New Castle, like all the surrounding region, bore its full share in the rigors of the war for independence. It was a part of the Neutral Ground, as it was called, "and was subjected, from its vicinity to the city, to be foraged by the royal forces, and plundered and insulted by Refugees and Tories. No part of the Union was more harried and trampled down by friend and foe, during the Revolution, than this debatable region." It lay in the direct track of some of the principal military movements of both armies. Expeditions which crossed the Croton at Pine's Rridge found their way through this part of North Castle. In November, 1776, a fortnight after the battle of White Plains, when the jealous and willful Lee, with a delay that bordered on insubordination, was holding his forces at North Castle, Washington wrote to him. " I recommend it to your consideration, whether your re-tiring to Croton Bridge may not be more advisable than to run the hazard of an attack with unequal numbers. At any rate, I think all your bag-gage and stores, except such as are necessary for immediate use, ought to be to the northward of Croton River. You will consider the post at Cro-ton's (or Pine's) Rridge, as under your immediate care." Washington left North Castle at eleven o'clock on the 10th of November, and arrived at Peekskill at sunset.