They allowed their adversaries to approach within a few yards, and then poured in upon them a volley so unexpected and destructive, that the Hessians retreated down the hill immediately and crossed the Bronx in disorder. Among the most active officers who took part in this skir-mish, was the late General Benjamin Tallmadge of Connecti-cut, who in the campaign of 1776 served under General Wads-worth as his Brigade-major. When the regiments to which he was attached, under Major-general Spencer, were driven across the Bronx, he himself remained upon the eastern bank until they had all passed over. The Hessians then suddenly

44 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

approached within musket-shot and he was compelled to put spurs to his horse. He had gained the margin of the stream, which his horse was about to enter, when he was joined by an unexpected companion. This was Doctor Trumbull, one of the army chaplains, who was on foot. The Reverend gentleman had loitered too long upon the eastern side. Finding his situation at this moment perilous in the extreme, he chose the best means of escape at hand, and sprang on horseback behind the Brigade-major. But uninvited and unseen as the chaplain was, he leaped with such force as to carry his friend, and the saddle and accoutrements of the latter, together with himself, headlong into the river. This so entirely disconcerted the two officers, that by the time they reached the opposite bank of the Bronx, the Hessian troops were about to cross it, and considered the fugitives as their prisoners. They however both escaped, though loudly called upon to surrender. But Tallmadge's situation was not yet much improved. He soon found himself between the adverse fires of his friends and enemies, and in consequence dismounted and filed off to the right. When the Hessians were repulsed, he again mounted and rode along the valley of the Bronx in search of General Washington, to whom he reported the situation of the troops of Chatterton Hill; the southern and southwest-ern slopes of which were now occupied by Spencer, who placed his levies under cover wherever it was practicable.