Notice had been given to the pickets on the York Island side not to fire on the boats or hail them as they went down the river, but the sentinel nearest the island had not been instructed. General Heath was standing nearly opposite, on the Westchester side, to witness the attack. The sentinel challenged the boats and ordered them to come to the shore ; the people on board the boats said that they were friends, but the sentry kept on challenging. The answer was, " We tell you we are friends -- hold your tongue." Major Henly sprang overboard and swam to the shore, and wading up to General Heath, asked him, " Sir, will it do?" General Heath, holding him by the hand, said, " I see nothing to the contrary." Henly replied : " Then it shall do " and he waded back to the boat and got in. The sentinel on the New York side shouted " If you don't come to the shore, I tell you I'll fire." Some one in the boats cried out " Pull away." The boats went on and the sentinel fired. The boats reached the island almost at the moment intended, just as daylight was breaking. Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson and M.ojor Logan and another field officer of a New York regiment were in the first boat. They jumped ashore, the colonel remaining in charge of his detachment. The other two were to go to the right and left, and lead the men from the other boats, which were to land on either side of the first boat. The men from the first boat landed; the enemy's guard charged, but were instantly driven back, but the men in the other two boats, instead of landing, lay on their oars. The British seeing this, returned to the charge, and the single boat- load seeing themselves abandoned, returned to the boat.