Hurlbut suffered a gunshot wound to the groin. Years later, advocating payment of compensation to Hurlbut's family, Washington wrote about the young captain's fate: "I do hereby Certify to all whom it may concern, that Cap.tn George Hurlbut of the 2d Reg.t of Light Dragoons received a wound in the gallant performance of his Duty at Tarry Town in the summer of 1781, of which, after having languished in the most exquisite pains untill the 8th of May 1783, he expired," he wrote.

But Hurlbut may not have died of the wound. In a letter to Washington in 1783 seeking permission to go home, Hurlbut wrote, "The wound which I received almost two years ago is at length healed, but the disagreeable symptom, with which I have been afflicted during the winter hast forbid me to expect a return of health."

What killed Hurlbut?

According to Simms, on the night of the engagement Sheldon's Dragoons were stationed near White Plains, N.Y. A sloop left Albany and anchored near their position. Hurlbut, a Sgt. Litchfield and half a dozen privates went aboard to guard it until morning. Meanwhile, two British ships in Haverstraw Bay sent out several small boats carrying marines, to capture the sloop.

"Several of the enemy who first attempted to gain the sloop's deck, fell back with shattered heads or drooping hands; but his sergeant having been killed by a bullet through the head, finding himself overpowered by numbers who were gaining the deck opposite, the Captain abandoned his trust and told his men to take care of themselves. They plunged into the water, and, amid a shower of bullets, swam to the shore, on gaining which, the Captain halted to bandy harsh epithets with his foes, and received for his temerity a dangerous bullet wound in the groin. He was, however, borne off by his men to the camp," Simms wrote.

"The night Capt. Hurlbut was wounded, my informant, then a private soldier in his company sat up with him, his vigil lasting until day-light; and as the weather was warm he had to fan his patient constantly. The next day Capt. H. was removed to the West Point hospital, where, under skilful hands, he was nearly cured; when he became intimate with the bane of a Military camp — a profligate woman — who poisoned him with disease and he died soon after much regretted; as he was an active man and daring officer just past his majority in years. He was a native of New London, Connecticut."

Simms identified his informant as "Daniel Spencer, of Canajoharie, N.Y."

Did Hurlbut die of his wounds or from a disease he caught from a camp prostitute? It's almost impossible to know today. Perhaps he suffered from internal injuries or infection caused by the wound. Or maybe Spencer was right and Washington was wrong.