BATTLE OF WHITEPLAINS, ETC. 51 had either forded the river or crossed the bridge, the moment it was rendered passable; their emulation being inflamed by the sudden advance of the British brigade. The enemy's whole force now formed and marched northerly under cover of the hill, until having gained sufficient ground, they faced to the left. Their column then became a line, parallel with the Americans. They thereupon ascended the hill; but their advance was, from time to time, checked by the troops of Ritzema and Smallwood, who contested the ground with the utmost gallantry. An attempt was now made by some of the enemy's light troops to turn the left flank of the Americans and so cut off their communication with the main army. When McDougall perceived this movement, he sent Colonel Webb farther to the north with injunctions to prevent the royal troops from executing their designs. With great promptness and regu-larity, Webb led his men to a favorable position near the Dobbs Ferry road, when he was presently attacked by the British and Hessians in numbers superior to his own. A sharp conflict ensued, but in the end, he drove back his antagonists and secured for McDougall a junction with Washington's right wing by way of Chatterton's bridge. Upon this occa-sion, the late unfortunate General William Hull was a captain in Webb's regiment, and is said to have distinguished himself for the first time in his military career. When the King's troops had got about half way up the hill, the cannonade, which for more than an hour had been incessantly directed upon McDougall's forces, was suddenly put an end to by the enemy's officers, for the reason, that their own men would become endangered by its continuance. This was the signal for Rahl's cooperation, and that redoubt-able officer soon made his appearance.