Among the latter, were Major Green and Captain Pope; the former being badly wounded in the soul-der, while the other received a shot in the leg. The attack was well planned and bravely executed, and would no doubt have been completely successful had the assailants known exactly where Captain Eagles and his com-pany lay. As it was, the affair has always been considered brilliant. The news was received with joy throughout the ranks of the American army, and led to several other attempts upon the enemy's outposts. Lord Sterling himself was highly pleased with the result, and thanked the officers and men of the detachment publicly, on the parade. Those who were killed at Heathcote Hill were, on the next

Chapter I

BEFORE THE BATTLE OF WHITEPLAINS 25

morning, buried by the rangers upon the spot; but the wounded, both British and American, remained a long time upon the field, where their moans from pain and their cries for water were distressing. In the afternoon they were all conveyed upon ox-carts pressed from the neighboring in-habitants, to New Rochelle Church, for the time being con-verted into a hospital. Although Major Green's collision with the picket guard alarmed and made ready for defense the main body of the rangers, there can be little doubt that the whole corps would have been either taken or dispersed, but for the intrepidity of their commander and the erroneous estimate of their num-bers which the Continental troops entertained. Rogers was not popular except with his own men. His exterior was rough and unpromising, his conversation full of gasconade, and he was openly charged by some of the Royal officers with having broken his parole. They also imputed to him dis-obedience of orders and incapacity; asserting that he was directed to place himself a short distance in advance of the British army, instead of which, the post he took was two miles off, where he suffered himself to be surprised.