"On the 19th of January. 17S1, (says General Heath,) 150 men from the Connecticut line and 200 from the New Hampshire line were to move towards the lines; these, with those who marched from Hazen's tlie day before, were to form a covering party to the detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Hull, who was to make an attempt on De Lancey's corps.""- The result of the enterprise, (which took place upon the 2Sth of January, 1781,) is thus related by Thacher. "A detachment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hull, has returned from a successful expedition, having attacked by surprise the Royal Refugee corps under the command of the noted Colonel De Lancey, posted at Morrisania. Colonel Hull has for several months past sustained the command of a detachment of our troops posted in advance of our army, a situation requiring the most active vigilance and precaution, to guard against surprise and stratagem. In this station, as in many others, this officer has evinced his military skill and judgment. He has executed an enterprize with such address and gallantry as to merit for himself and his detachment the highest honor. He bravely forced a narrow passage to the enemy, and besides a number being killed, he took upwards of fifty prisoners, cut away the bridge,^' burnt their huts and a considerable quantity of forage, and brought oti'a number of horses and cattle. Colonel Hull possesses in a high degree the confidence of the commander-in chief ; and for his judicious arrangements in the plan, and intrepidity and valor in the execution of the enterprize, he received the thanks of his Excellency, and afterwards of congress. The enemy pursued our troops, and fell in with a covering party, under command of Colonel Hazen, and in a skirmish which ensued, they sufiered an additional loss of about thirty-five.