Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton in the meantime with the whole of his cavalry, had taken possession of Valentines' Hill on the East, while Major Prueschenck and Captain Wreden with strong detachments of the yagers were hastening to sta-tions where they might cut off the retreat of the Americans, towards the south or west. It was now a little before six o'clock in the morning. The Continental detachment was almost encircled by an over-whelming force, and nothing appeared wanting to render escape impossible but a few moments more of time, in order that Prueschenck and Wreden might gain their proper pos-tions. The destruction of Gist's corps seemed inevitable, but in the very hour of fate, fortune first, and then his guide, stepped forward for his preservation. One of his officers, Captain Smith, had been sent on business the day before to head-quarters and was at this moment returning on horse-back from Whiteplains to camp, along the Sawmill river road. As he passed the Episcopalian parsonage, Madame Babcock was standing on the porch and waved her handker-chief for him to approach, intending to warn him of the danger ahead; but Smith was in haste, and mistaking her sig-nal, returned it as a morning salutation, and pushing for-ward entered an ambuscade carefully prepared by Emmerich. Suddenly soldiers rose up from behind the fences, an officer called upon him to surrender, and the American captain found himself almost surrounded. With great decision he wheeled about, threw himself flat upon the horses shoulders, and spur-ring him to his utmost speed, rode safely through a volley of musketry and rifle-balls and escaped. Simcoe now mounted rapidly up the steeps toward Colonel Gist, but was mortified to find that his quarry had escaped, and that all he had gained was the possession of an empty camp. The truth is, however, that the American colonel was completely surprized,