American Soldiers (died 1776)
Following the battles of 1776, Eastchester and the surrounding area became a no-man's land, known as the "neutral ground". Civil authority broke down as British and Patriot army units, including some commanded by Aaron Burr, made raids across Westchester County. Roving bands of guerilla bandits, known as "Cowboys" and "Skinners" looted and assaulted indiscriminately, taking or destroying crops and livestock. Many people fled to other areas and those who remained stopped working their farms out of a deep sense of frustration. In one such attack on March 16,1777, the British surprised a Rebel foraging party stationed at the Eastchester house of Stephen Ward who was in charge of obtaining supplies for the Patriot army and seizing Loyalist property. Several dozen Americans were killed. They were buried near the road, alongside Route 22, near the present location of Concordia College. In the early 20th century, construction to widen Route 22 led to the rediscovery of the skeletons, which were later re-interred at St. Paul's Church cemetery. The stone's inscription reads: HERE ARE INTERRED THE SKELETONS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS FOUND AT TUCKAHOE 1909 ERECTED BY BRONX CHAPTER D A R 1910.
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