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. While the enemy on the 25th were landing at Compo, General Silliman sent out expresses to rouse the country. He wrote to Colonel Cook, informing him of the invasion, and requiring him in the most urgent terms to muster and send forward to Fairfield, the men of his regiment as fast as they should come in. Cook was at the same time directed to dispatch messengers with the news to Brigadier-general Wolcott of Litchfield, and to other officers of the Connecticut militia. The contents of Silliman's letter were made known to Huntington a short time before three o'clock in the morn-ing of the 26th, and such was the energy of the latter and his associates, that four hours afterward, the neighbouring militia companies were on the move toward Fairfield. Intel-ligence however soon came that the British forces, in full march for Danbury, had already reached the borders of the adjacent town of Reading. All thereafter was confusion, and the men for the most part returned home for the protec-tion of their families. On Tryon's approach, Colonel Huntington who occupied the town with a force now reduced to about fifty Continental troops and one hundred militia, retired northerly to some neighboring heights. From this position, in full view of the enemy, he continued during that day and the following morn-ing, to watch their proceedings.