The force that landed at this time was about four thousand strong; consisting of the guards, light infantry, reserve and Donop's corps. After completing a debarkation at Throg's Point, the British forced formed, and their advance pushed forward imme-diately to secure the only safe pass there was to the mainland. But General Heath was ready for them. On their first land-ing, Colonel Hand's select party of twenty-five riflemen, dis-mantled the bridge, under the direction of Major William S. Smith, afterward the son-in-law of President John Adams. In the action of the 16th of September, on Harlem Heights, Major Smith was wounded and fell from his horse, while service as aid-de-camp to Major-general Greene. He was thereupon taken to Westchester where he remained under the hands of his surgeon, until the approach of the King's army, when he rose from his bed, and was permitted to take command of the subaltern's detachment. Before the British vanguard reached the causeway, Hand himself was on the spot with the main body of his regiment, and under cover of the woodpiles, opened a fire across the creek, upon the fore-most ranks of the enemy; which put a stop to their father progress in that direction. The Royal advance then has-tened to the passes further up the creek, and attacked the riflemen posted there; attempting to force their way to the

Chapter I

BEFORE THE BATTLE OF WHITEPLAINS 11

main. The Americans stood firmly upon the defensive, until the arrival of reinforcements from General Heath. This prudent and sagacious commander, when he heard of the hostile landing, immediately ordered Colonel Prescott of Bunker Hill celebrity, with his regiment, and Captain-lieu-tenant Bryant of the artillery, with a three pounder, to strengthen Colonel Hand at the causeway; while Colonel Graham of the New York line, with his regiment, and Lieu-tenant Jackson of the artillery with a six pounder, were at the same time directed to support the other detachment.