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. General Waterbury with the militia and state troops of Con-necticut moved down by the Boston and New York pos road. The utmost pains were taken by the commander in chief to prevent any intelligence of these movements from getting to the enemy. Scammell's light infantry and vari-ous companies of rangers advanced through the fields, ambus-caded the roads, apprehended all persons travelling toward Kingsbridge or Morrisania and stopped effectually all com-munication with the lower towns of the county. This occa-sion called for the services of all the acting guides. John Odell and the two Dyckmans were accordingly the chief guides for the American columns, while Cornelius Oakley con-ducted the French troops under Rochambeau and Chastellux, assisted by Isaac and James Oakley, Isaac Webbers and others.

THE WESTCHESTER GUIDES 75 At Valentine's Hill the left column of the American troops formed a junction with the two French divisions, and the united forces arrived before Kingsbridge about daylight. Here they found General Parsons, who had arrived on the ground a short time previously. The whole army then formed on the heights back of Fort Independence, and be-tween there and Fordham Hamlet, to the great surprise of the enemy, who appeared to have been without the least intelligence of the hostile approach until the combined forces were ready to deploy.