The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-10-15

strategem, he effected his escape. One
dark night he managed to tie bundle of
clothes on his head, and by stealth crept to
chains which held the ship to the anchor,
down which he slipped quietly and unob-
served into the water, and soon reached
Corliers Hook by swimming. He travelled
cautiously by night, and after many priya-
tons, suferings, and hair-breadth escapes,
reached his home on the banks of the Gro
ton River, The above incident is given
on the authority of Capt. Potter, former
resident of Sing Sing, who is nephew of
Moses Sherwood, referred to in the follow
ing sketch of Jack Peterson, which was
published in the Westchester Herald" by
Caleb Roscoe, who was ever on the alert
for facts and incidents which illustrate or
develop the history of the American Revo-
luton.
1t will be seen by this sketch, which is
worthy of republication hundred times,
that Jack served in the army of his coun-
try until he was honorably discharged, and
that it was pure patriotism that led him and
Sherwood to attack an enemy of superior
numbers and power. 1t was not three to
one, but two against many.i 1t was tins
boldness and patriotism that thwarted An
Dire in his design to embark on board the
Vulture with his death-warrant of Ameri-
can liberty.
In all future times let the names of Pc
terson and Sherwood be shouted in the
al, ~
Paulding, and Van Wart.
For many years after this great event,
Peterson was accustomed to point out to
his sons and others one of the cannon balls
lodged in an oak tree on Teller's Point,
which was fired from the Vulture on this
occasion. A few years ago this tree, be-
ing very much decayed, was cut down,
the ball removed and kept by VIM. Under
hill, of Teller's Point, who not long since
presented it to the writer of the present ar
ticle:
JACK PETERSON.
John Peterson, colored man, (mulatto,)
departed this life October I'd, at his late
residence in the village of Peekskill, aged
1913 years Peterson was brought up in
the family of Job Sherwood, of this coun-
ty, whose son, Isaac Sherwood, had entered
the Continental army, as first lieutenant,
in the regiment commanded by Col. Philip
Van Cortland, at the commencement of the
war of the Revolution; and Pc terson, who
was about the same age as the lieutenant,
having become devoted attached to him,
bessrd the privilege of accompanying him
by the lieutenant, and Peterson enlist d as
i private in the same regiment to which he
was attached.
This regiment was in the memorable bat
tie of Saltwater, in Saratoga county, atthe
time Gen. Burgoyne surrendered his whole
army to the American forces under the
command of Gen. Gates. Lieut.. Sher-
wood, who always sought the post of dam
ger, received in the action mortal wound,
for he always made it point to be near
the lieutenant in the hour of danger. Pc
terson watched over this brave officer with
untiring perseverance, night and day, until
he expired, and after his death followed his
remains to the public burying- ground in the
city of Albany, where he was inferred with
military honors. The devoted attachment
of Peterson to the gallant and much la
mented lieutenant was observed by Col.
Van Cortlandt, who, without solicitation,
gave him his discharge from the service to
enable him to return home with the effects
which belonged to thelieutenant.
On his return to his county, the lines be-
tween the American and British forces had
been removed from Tarytown to the north
side of the Croton River, and the head.
quarters of the American troops was estab.
lished on the farm now owned by John
Cocks, Esq, formerly John Conklin's,)
near which place the father and family Of
the lieutenant had been obliged to take up
their residence as place of security from
the enemy
On the morning of the 21st of Septem-
Der. 1880, Moses Sherwood and Peterson
were engaged in making cider, at Barretfs
farm, in Cortlandt town, now occupied by
J. w. Frost, Esq. They had taken their
arms with them, for in those days of peril
all were obliged to go armed; even the
farmer and his laborers carried their arms
with them while engaged in their agricul-
tural pursuits 1t was on that day thatthe
Vulture sloop-of-war came to anchor a short
distance off the western extremity of Tel
ler's Point, having brought up Andre for
the purpose of holding an interview with
the traitor Arnold, which took place the
night before at the Long Glove, in Rock
land county about six miles below the mil
itary posts of Stony and Verplank's Points.
Moses Sherwood, while at the cider mill,
which was situated on the west side of the
road, saw barge filled with armed men
from the Vulture, in commany with gun
boat, approaching the shore at the point of
land where he and Peterson were at work,
whereupon they seized their guns and ran
to the shore, resolved in their own minds
that the enemy should not land without
opposition. For this purpose they con-
cealed themselves behind some rocks, and
as the barge came sweeping along towards
the place where they were lying, Peterson