As an apology for these severities, the British officers alleged that they wished to put a stop to the militia practice of firing from houses. They gave out that therefore, they made it an invariable rule to give no quarter to those who fired from such cover, and that in addition they always burnt the buildings themselves. Mr. Silas Hamilton, an aged farmer residing a short distance north of the town, having heard that the British troops were

THE DANBURY EXPEDITION 105

approaching; resolved to save a roll of domestic cloth belong-ing to him, which was then in the hands of a clothier, in the southern extremity of the village. He rode instantly to the cloth-dressers and had just tied one end of the piece to the rear of his saddle, when the advanced guard of the enemy came in sight. In a moment afterward he was in the stir-rups, pricking homeward, but followed upon the spur by three troopers who had observed him. After a race of five hundred yards the horsemen overtook him, and called for a surrender. This the hardy husbandman refused, continuing his flight. The foremost trooper then struck at him with his sword, but at that moment the cloth partially unrolling, one end of it fluttered in the breeze, and frightened the pursuer's horse. Hamilton continued to urge his horse forward and the dragoons persevered in the pursuit for more than a mile. They overtook the fugitive several times; but whenever they approached within striking distance, the flying extremity of the cloth was in the way, disconcerting both horse and rider, and the resolute farmer at length escaped. Being now in full possession of the village, the British com-manders prepared for the defence of their position. They placed out-guards at the principal approaches, and planted their field-pieces in battery upon Deer Hill, a commanding eminence on the western side of the main street.