The McDonald Papers, Part II, Chapter 1: The Neutral Ground
Cushing's pris-oners, who, tied together, had hitherto been marching quietly between the retreating platoons, now broke away from the ranks, exclaiming with loud shouts: "Our friends are coming, --Our friends are coming, we'll soon be clear." For a short time the soldiers were in dismay, and even some of the officers asked the guides in a whisper, whether it would not be better to disband and let every man shift for himself. The guides, with promptness, opposed a measure which the danger seemed to justify, but urged the commander to make instant prepara-tions for resisting an attack. The Continental officers, as-sisted by Odell and the two Dyckmans, then went from rank to rank, encouraging the men, who speedily recovered from their panic, and were formed into a square, with the pris-oners, who had been reclaimed with difficulty, secured in the centre. In this manner, they retired slowly across the open
14 THE MCDONALD PAPERS
grounds to the Saw-Mill-river-road, and during the same day, united themselves to Colonel Millen without further molesta-tion. While they were forming for retreat, the yager cav-alry, supported by the refugee troopers, seemed preparing for an onset, and their trumpets, without ceasing, continued sounding the charge; but for some reason or other, which the guides were always curious to find out, but could never ascer-tain, neither the Hessian horsemen nor their allies advanced within striking distance, although every circumstance ap-peared to favor an attack with the sabre.
grounds to the Saw-Mill-river-road, and during the same day, united themselves to Colonel Millen without further molesta-tion. While they were forming for retreat, the yager cav-alry, supported by the refugee troopers, seemed preparing for an onset, and their trumpets, without ceasing, continued sounding the charge; but for some reason or other, which the guides were always curious to find out, but could never ascer-tain, neither the Hessian horsemen nor their allies advanced within striking distance, although every circumstance ap-peared to favor an attack with the sabre.