He took measures to increase this belief and meantime planned to ambuscade and capture their whole force. His idea was, as the enemy came down the "Mile Square Road," to advance past his flanks. This movement would be perfectly concealed by the fall of the ground to the right {i.e., down the slope in Woodlawn Heights, towards the stream at Second Street) and by the woods on the left {i.e., Van Cortlandt's woods, bordering the road and " Lover's Lane," extending north from the road opposite Fourth Street).

On the morning of August 81st the Queen's Rangers, under Simcoe, the chasseurs, under Emmerick; and De Lancey's Second Battalion and the Legion Dragoons, under Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, marched out the " Mile Square Road," reaching the present Woodlawn Heights about ten o'clock. The rangers and dragoons were posted on the right (east of Second Street and about opposite to First Avenue). Emmerick's instructions were to take a position on the left, in Van Cortlandt's woods, near Frederick Devoe's house, half a mile up the lane. By mistake he took post in the woods near Daniel Devoe's house, which stood on the " Mile Square Road," near the entrance to the lane, and sent a patrol forward on the road. ; Before Simcoe, who was half-way up a tree reconnoit- '

ering, could stop this movement, he saw a flanking party of Americans approach and heard a smart firing by the Indians who had lined the fences alongside the road on Emmerick's left.