The Colonel of artillery then rode to a body of about two hundred volunteers who had recently arrived, and declaring who he was, proposed to lead them on. The volunteers put themselves at once under Lamb's com-mand. When they approached Compo-Hill, placing him- self at their head, he led them forward in advance of the two columns then forming, and gaining a position about half way up the hill near its northern extremity posted them behind a stone wall within one hundred yards of the British forces, whom they galled extremely. Several of the enemy's field- pieces now directed their fire upon this band of volunteers. Lamb perceiving that his men were much annoyed in con- sequence, addressed them, proposing to rush forward at their head and capture the hostile artillery by a sudden charge. The volunteers readily consented and the chivalrous Colonel leaping from his horse, took the post of honour in their front. At this moment the enterprise against Danbury may be said to have reached its crisis. For three days and nights the British troops had been almost without sleep. Some of the soldiers were dropping upon the road from excessive fatigue. Out of sixty rounds of ammunition, with which each of the privates had been supplied, only two were left; in addition to all which, Tryon himself was indisposed and General Agnew wounded in the shoulder. On the other hand General

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McDougall from Peekskill, at the head of twelve hundred men, and a field piece, had already reached the borders of the State and was pressing rapidly forward toward the scene of conflict, from which he was distant but a few miles. Small bands of volunteers were constantly coming in, and the Americans were not only augmenting in number, and increas-ing in confidence, but were commanded by one of the most active and daring generals of the age.