At length one of the guides offered to conduct the royal troops further up the river, to a place where they might cross in safety. Upon this they wheeled about toward the north, and marching along the Saugatuck nearly a mile, at length reached a ford, where they passed over to the other side; and then continued their retreat with rapidity along the eastern bank of the stream. General Silliman who had joined Colonel Huntington and taken command of the detachment under the latter, now made the utmost efforts to overtake the retreaters. The hostile forces moved toward the Sound in parallel columns, being about half a mile from each other. The Americans marched along the west bank of the Saugatuck. From time to time each party cannonaded the other with animation. As they approached Saugatuck bridge, about two or three o'clock in the afternoon, Colonel Deming at the head of a small corps of regular troops forded the river where it was breast high, undiscovered by the British forces, and then falling suddenly upon their rear and left, galled them exceedingly. General Arnold now requested Silliman to cross the Saugatuck, and attack the rear of the royal troops, while he himself hurried forward and passed the bridge, in order to assail the enemy in flank. His troops at first were thrown into confusion, by the British cannonade directed against the bridge, and fell back. In a few minutes he restored order and led them across. Tryon had halted, and now sent forward a detach-ment apparently, with the intention of occupying the bridge. Having taken possession of Couch-Hill, and other neighbor-ing heights he commenced at the same time a violent cannon-ade upon Silliman and his followers, which prevented them from fording the Saugatuck. Arnold was moving on with his usual impetuosity, to find some position, where he might check the further progress of his opponents.