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. When at Greenfield, Gov-ernor Tryon set his face toward the north, the object of his inroad was no longer doubtful. General Silliman immedi-ately dispatched additional messengers to the Continental

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commander at Danbury, with orders to remove if possible, or if not, to destroy the magazines. This mandate unfortunately came too late to be of much avail. A few light articles were secured, but the others, for the most part deposited in pri-vate houses, were not susceptible in the exigency, of being destroyed without causing great loss to the inhabitants. They were in consequence abandoned to the enemy. The active Whigs of Danbury with their families fled northerly into the open country, but a few resolute men remained in the village until the invaders entered. Some of these even had the hardihood to attack the foremost of the British vanguard. Three whites and a black man took post in a large mansion belonging to Major Starr, from which they fired upon the horsemen, but the house was surrounded and set on fire a moment afterward. The inmates were cut down and thrown into the flames as they attempted to escape. A young English officer who accompanied the mounted volunteers, when they were fired upon, related at the time that he sprang from the saddle and ran the black man through with his rapier.