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. On the morning of the same day (Sunday the 27th) a heavy cannonade was heard throughout the American camps, which seemed to proceed from the direction of New York Island; and officers and volunteers immediately mounted and galloped of in quest of information. This firing, which startled the troops under Washington and Lee, and which was maintained at intervals throughout the day, was caused by the approach of some of the enemy's vessels, supported by Lord Percy's brigades, against Fort Washington and Fort Lee. The following account of this attack or reconnaissance, is taken principally from General Greene's letters and from a letter which appeared at the time in the Pennsylvania Journals, and is attributed to Thomas Paine, the celebrated political writer, who witnessed the affair from Fort Lee. At seven o'clock in the morning, the British frigates as-cended the Hudson and came to anchor near Bourdett's Ferry, in the immediate vicinity of the Morris House, appar-ently with the intention of cutting off the communication between Fort Washington and Fort Lee. The foremost of these men-of-war lay directly opposite to Fort number One on York Island. The enemy at the same time made their appearance in force, on Harlem Plains, between the advanced posts of the two armies. Lord Percy's intention probably was to test the strength and countenance of the Americans, and if he found them weak and wavering, to push through the lines and drive them into the fort; while on the other hand, if they turned out in numbers and appeared firm, he meant,