Heath sent a detachment with two field-pieces southward to the brow of the hill over, looking the Free Bridge, ' and opened fire on a bat. talion of Hessians drawn up across the Harlem, back of Hyatt's tavern. The enemy settled down as the shot passed them, and one piece being moved lower down, they retired rapidly behind their redoubt, -' receiving a shot as they were turning the point. The enemy now opened on Heath's artillerymen from guns he had not suspected to be in the redoubt, and the men hastily drew their pieces back, receiving several shots before they reached the top of the hill.

The success of this movement on the British outposts flew through the country and was magnified into the reduction and capture of Fort Independence and its garrison. Washington communicated this report to Congress before receiving ofiicial accounts, causing a double disappointment when the facts were known, The Tory press in New York City reported it as an attack on Fort Independence by a large body of rebels, who were "bravely repulsed."

On the 19th the enemy oi)ened fire from the fort, and killed one American. Heath determined to cut off the British battalion at Hyatt's by passing one thousand men overSpuyten Duyvil Creek on the ice. It was very cold. The men were detached and gathered at Spuyte^ Duyvil Ridge for the attack, but before morning the weather had so moderated that it was deemed too hazardous to make the attem])t. There was cannonading on both sides on the 20th, and the enemy on the island were thrown into much confusion. Heath observing that the enemy, when fired at across the Harlem, found shelter behind the hill at Hyatt's, had a field-piece hauled up to the brow of Tippett's Hill, and opened fire on both their front and rear on the afternoon of the 21st.