In consequence of recent rains the river was unusually high, and its passage was extremely difficult, its bed, at the foot of Chatterton Hill, being much obstructed by accumulated trunks of trees which had fallen in from time immemorial, and by remains of ancient beaver-dams. When they reached the banks of the stream, the Hessians loudly expressed their unwillingness to ford it. Preparations were thereupon immediately made, by arti-ficers and men for the construction of a temporary bridge, by felling trees, and collecting rails, and other materials near at hand. But McDougall and his officers were not inatten-tive to these proceedings. Colonel Haslet, whose intrepidity and quickness of perception formed him for the battle field, had already suggested some changes in the formation of the forces on the hill, which were adopted by the American com-mander. When the Delaware Colonel perceived that the whole body of the royal army was directing its march toward Chatterton Hill, he again advised McDougall to vary his dis-position, by sending some of his best troops to meet the enemy. This suggestion was also complied with, and the Maryland and the Third New York regiment were ordered forward. The Columns under Leslie and Donop were now perceived rapidly approaching the Bronx. "On my seeing," says Haslet, "the enemy's march to the creek begin in a column of their main body, and urging the necessity of bringing our field pieces immediately forward to bear on them, the general ordered one, and that so poorly appointed, that myself was forced to assist in dragging it