At Reading-on-the-ridge, where the British forces arrived in the forenoon, they halted and took breakfast. Small par-ties of the American militia, meanwhile hovered about watch-ing every opportunity for attack.-- While Brigadier Agnew, who had entered a farm-house at this place, was engaged in his morning's repast, an enterprising volunteer named William Hawley, ventured suddenly into the hostile line of march, overpowered the groom that held the general's horse at the door, and vaulting into the saddle, escaped with his prize. Having recruited their exhausted strength by food, and by an hour's rest, the invaders resumed their march, crossing Hoyt's Hill and passing through Bethel.--It was about two or three o'clock in the afternoon, when the horsemen of the vanguard entered the village of Danbury. These cavaliers consisted of the greater part of the light dragoons and of such of the Royal volunteers as had managed to mount themselves by the way. As they approached the place, they put spurs to their horses and came in at full speed, some distance ahead of their main body. When the expedition sailed from New York on the 23rd of April, the American forces at Danbury consisted of about three hundred Continental troops under Colonel Huntington

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of the regular army, and one hundred militia under Colonel Cook. But on the same day, a British fleet composed of men-of-war and transports, ascended the Hudson and sev-eral vessels anchored off the Eastern shore, making a show of landing a body of soldiers somewhere near Dobbs Ferry. Under these circumstances, General McDougall who com-manded at Peekskill, became alarmed for the safety of his post, and made a requisition upon Huntington, for the regulars under his command. All of these with the exception of about fifty, were sent to Peekskill accordingly on the 24th and 26th of April.