Further down, the recon-noitring party was formed a junction with a select body of Amer-ican light-infantry, who the same morning, had gone down to explore the ground on the right, and the two allied detach-ments then drove across Kingsbridge the troops that occu-pied the Hessian outpost; pursuing the fugitives, till they came within musket shot of Prince Charles' redoubt. This reconnaissance was the first occasion upon which Kilmaine particularly distinguished himself, and it established in favor of the elder Berthier, a reputation for intrepidity which led to his promotion. While at some distance from his com-rades, the latter fell in with, and was attacked by one of Colonel James Delancey's corps of refugees. A fierce en-

74 THE MCDONALD PAPERS counter hand to hand was maintained by Berthier with the aggressor who did not surrender until mortally wounded. Five thousand troops of the two nations were now ordered to be held in readiness for marching below, at eight o'clock in the evening of Saturday, July the 21st, for the purpose of reconnoitring with precision the enemy's posts on the island, between Kingsbridge and Harlem, and of cutting off, if pos-sible, such of the enemy's corps as might be found upon the main. At the hour appointed, the march commenced in four columns, and on different roads. The right American col-umn consisted of the Connecticut troops, twenty-five of Sheldon's light dragoons and two field pieces under Major General Parsons, on the North River road. Two continental detachments under Major Generals Lincoln and Howe, to-gether with the corps of sappers and miners and four field pieces formed the next column, on the sawmill river road. The right column of the French, on the left of the Ameri-cans, consisted of the Brigade of Bourbonnais, with the bat-talion of grenadiers and chasseurs, two field pieces, and two twelve pounders, and moved by the Sprain road; while their left column, composed of the legion of Lauzun, one battalion of grenadiers and chasseurs, the regiment of Soissonnais, two field pieces and two howitzers, marched on the Tuckahoe road.