While Wooster was yet engaged in operating against the British rear guard, Arnold with his usual rapidity of move-ment had made a forced march across the country. Between eleven and twelve he took possession of Ridgefield, with a detachment which some reinforcements had now augmented to upwards of five hundred muskets. The delay occasioned to the enemy by the repeated attacks made upon them gave Arnold time to intrench himself. At the northern extremity of the village, where the main street crossed a ridge, he threw up a breast work or barricade formed out of earth, rails, car-

THE DANBURY EXPEDITION 111

riages and lumber, and with upward of two hundred men took post at this spot. His right flank was protected by Steb-bins' house, with its barns and out buildings, while his left was secured by a ledge of rocks. The residue of his force was placed so as to provide additional safety for his flanks, by taking possession of two roads, parallel with, and on either side of, the principal street, and distant from it respec-tively about four hundred yards in easterly and westerly direc-tions. Here he waited for the enemy's appearance. Before Tryon resumed his march upon Ridgefield, he had received a report of the position taken to check his progress. He thereupon reconnoitred carefully a second time and at length about two o'clock in the afternoon, proceeded to the attack at the head of his whole force. He moved forward with great caution, secured on the flanks, by guards of nearly two hundred men each; having three or four pieces of cannon in his front, and advancing with music and all the military pomp and circumstance that were at his command. Per-ceiving that Arnold was most vulnerable upon the left, his proceedings were directed towards that quarter, and the American general soon found himself upon the point of being out-flanked.