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. The public stores that General Tryon found in Danbury much exceeded his expectations, both in value and amount. His first intention was to convey them within the Royal lines. Finding it impossible to procure carriages for this purpose, they were by his orders effectually destroyed. In this service the soldiers were employed during most of the night and part of the following morning. Barns, store-houses, and even private dwellings, were filled with Conti-nental provisions, tents and clothing. In the Episcopalian Church, the pork and flour there deposited reached to the galleries, and the barrels containing these provisions were rolled out into the highway, and burnt by the enemy along with other stores. After the fire had been sometime kindled, it is said that the melted fat ran in streams along the prin-

106 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

cipal village street. The light caused by this extensive con-flagration, during the deep darkness of a rainy night, alarmed the inhabitants of distant towns, and gave them the earliest intelligence of the sack of Danbury. At Fredericksburg in the State of New York, twelve miles off, there was also a great quantity of Continental stores, and the well-affected people of the place beheld in the lurid horizon, the devastation that followed the steps of the invader. Apprehending a similar visit, they were on the alert all night in preparations for defence.