On the 24th a severe storm began; Lincoln's division had to quit their huts in the woods back of Colonel Van Cortlandt's, and move back, some even to Dobbs Ferry, to find shelter. A freshet in the Bronx caused the water to run over Williams' bridge. Early on the 25th, the enemy sallied from Fort Independence towards De Lancey's jMills, surprised and routed the guard, wounding several and causing a regiment to quit its quarters. By British accounts they also took one piece of cannon. About ten o'clock they made a sally out the Boston road in force, drove the guards from Negro Fort and Valentine's house, and pushed on so impetuously, keeping up a brisk fire, that the retreating guards threw themselves into the old American redoubt ' overlooking Williams' bridge. The enemy thereupon lined a strong stone wall a few rods distant to the sruthwest. Two regiments of militia were at once formed in the road near Williams' house, across the Bronx, and were sent by General Heath, in support of Captain Bryant with his piece, across the submerged bridge. When nearly up the hill on the Boston road, Bryant unlimbered to prevent his horses being shot, and the men took the drag-ropes ; but the steepness of the ascent required the dragging of the piece almost within pistol-shot before it could be depressed enough to bear on the enemy. Its first shot opened a breach in the wall four or five feet wide, the next made another opening, whereupon the enemy fled back to Fort Independence with the greatest precipitation. The Americans had two killed and a number wounded. On the 27th the brass twenty-four pounder and the howitzer arrived and opened on the fort. The former sprung her carriage after the third discharge. There were no live shells for the howitzer.