The leading officer of the enemy called upon him to surrender, and in the same breath gave the command: "Charge men, charge." Major Tallmadge and his men had barely time to wheel about, when their adversaries were upon them, and both parties riding for life or death, entered the village at the same moment; the pursuers filling the air with shouts, execrations, and calls for submission, and making a headlong onset upon the Ameri-can troops now drawn up in the principal village street. The militia, who had just taken up a position to support the horse-men, wavered. Part of them broke and fell back upon Major

40 THE McDONALD PAPERS

Leavenworth, but the cavalry remained firm. Sheldon's men withstood the charge, and then, in turn, became assailants. The hostile cavaliers thereupon became mixed up together, and a scene of wild disorder ensued, where individuals, for several minutes, fought hand to hand, until the British com-mander, with the main body of his forces, appeared upon the ground. The rest of the militia now fled in different directions. Tarleton made instant preparations for a charge in front, while his infantry was moving upon the American flanks to prevent escape; but Sheldon, when he perceived himself outnumbered and about to be surrounded, commanded an immediate retreat. The adverse trumpets sounded at the same moment their shrill notes, which rising above the din of battle, indicated to the respective antagonists, flight and pursuit. The route of the fugitives lay southerly, upon the highway to Stamford. About three fourths of a mile from Poundridge, Major Lockwood, followed by a few of the dragoons, took the road which there branches off to New Canaan; but almost entirely, the main bodies, pursued and pursuers, still held on toward Stamford. The hunters con-tinued to follow their game for more than three miles.