The marquis had for some time been solicitous for active service and actual command, and this appears to have been the first occasion upon which he was gratified with the object of his wishes. Cornwallis was about sending his troops across the river at Gloucester when General Greene placed La Fayette at the head of a detachment consisting of about three hundred militia, one hundred and fifty riflemen and ten light dragoons, with per-mission, should circumstances warrant it, to attack the out-posts of the British general. It was on the morning of the 25th of November that the young French general started to conduct his first military operation. He was accompanied upon this occasion by several of his fellow countrymen who volunteered to assist during the reconnaissance, among whom were the colonels Armand and Laumoy, and the chevaliers

18 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

Duplessis and Gimat. The day was spent in nothing more than a careful examination of the enemy's movements and position; but toward evening, the American detachment advanced and attacked with great spirit a post occupied by three hundred and fifty Hessians with field pieces. The Hessians, although reinforced at two different times, were pushed back upon their main body, and, unable to make head against their assailants, retired, until darkness put an end to the skirmish, which was extremely creditable to the American forces, militia as well as riflemen. "The conduct of our soldiers," to use the words of the marquis, "was above all praise." He does not specify the gallantry of the French officers who are said to have greatly exposed themselves in cheering forward the militia. In this, which was Armand's maiden essay in war, his horse was shot under him, and a slight wound which he received enabled him to carry off from the field one manifest token of a passage at arms.--Fourteen Hessian prisoners were taken in this affair, and the enemy's loss in killed and wounded was about forty-five or fifty, while that of the Americans was only seven.