About noon on the 26th, this officer was surprised by a detachment of the King's troops, consisting of one hundred dragoons and about as many infantry; and was compelled to abandon the stores and retire to Fort Independence. The dragoons followed him a short distance, but he escaped by taking to the woods. After this, the enemy continued their march to the North River, and took posses-sion of Philipse Manor House. Early on the ensuing morning, the British detachment re-turned to the left wing of their main army. During the course of their march, they encountered several American scouting parties, which the horsemen charged, or pursued with loud shouts and brandished swords. The fine horses, splendid arms, and sudden movements of the Royal dragoons filled the American troops, at this time, with great apprehension. This was not to be wondered at in soldiers who had never before witnessed the rapid evolutions and formidable appear-ance of a body of well trained cavaliers. The Continental generals became fearful of the consequences. During the afternoon of the same day, General Washington issued a general order instructing both officers and soldiers, that in a country so broken as Westchester, and so intersected by fences, no foes were more inefficient than dragoons. They could seldom leave the road, so that infantry might always attack them to advantage, from adjacent woods or thickets, and from fields inclosed with stone

Chapter I

32 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

walls; where mounted men could seldom venture to follow an assailant. For the purpose of encouraging enterprises against these new adversaries, Washington further proclaimed in the same order, a reward of one hundred dollars, for every trooper brought in with his horse and accoutrements; and so in pro-portion if the capture should not be complete. It was how-ever some time before the American troops could in the open field, confront the British cavalry without uneasiness.