It is probable that a good many of our killed and wounded fell under the artillery fire which preceded the assault. This, although not long continued, was very heavy for the time that it did last. A participant on the American side, writing over the signature of " A Gentleman in the Army," has left a truly epic description of it, whereof we will not deprive our readers, especially as we shall hardly have another opportunity to offer them anything so tine about the spectacular aspects of war in Westchester Comity. The scene (he says) was grand and solemn. All the adjacent hills smoked as though on fire, and bellowed and trembled with a perpetual cannonade and fire of field-pieces, howitz, and mortars. The air groaned with streams of cannon and musket-shot ; the air and hills smoked and echoed terribly with the bursting of shells ; the fences and walls were knocked torn tous. pieces, and men's legs, arms, and bodies mingled with the cannon and grapeandaround down shot all

There are differences of opinion about the value of the services rendered the American regiments by the two field-guns at their disposal. It is said that Alexander Hamilton, visiting Chatterton's Hill many years after, remarked on this point: "For three successive discharges the advancing column of British troops was swept from hill-top to river," and in the writings of his son, John C, Hamilton, much is made of the artillery phase of the American defense. Dawson, whose animus against Hamilton is strong, utterly discredits the claims for the artillerymen and their young commander, and even asserts that this arm of the defense was distinctly neglectful of its duty, comporting itself almost as disgracefully as the Massachusetts regiment of militia. But this is not a detail of any essential importance.