Captain Hurlbut, who was on board one of the latter with twelve men, armed only with pistols and swords, waited until the British were alongside and kk gave them a lire, which they returned, and killed one of his men." The Americans now jumped into the water and swam ashore. After setting fire to the vessels the British quickly retired under a deadly musketry attack from the Dragoons and French on the shore. Thereupon Captain Hurlbut, Captain-Lieutenant Miles, Lieutenant Shaylor, and several others plunged into the river, boarded the burning sloops, and extinguished the flames. Hurlbut received a wound from which he died two years later. All the contents of the vessels were then safely landed. Washington deemed the services thus rendered so valuable and so gallant that in general orders he recited the facts, adding that the conduct of the three officers kt entitles them to the most distinguished notice and applause of their general," and in his Diary he remarks upon " the extraordinary spirit and activity " of the gentlemen concerned. The next morning (July 10) the Americans opened an artillery fire upon the British ships from a battery which had been erected at Tarrytown. This proved so troublesome that the enemy had to move out of range. On the 19th they stood down the river to return to New York. A destructive fire was poured upon them by the Dobbs Ferry battery. The largest of the ships was set on fire by a bursting shelf, and in consternation a number of the men jumped overboard. Some of them were drowned, and three or four who reached the shore were made prisoners. After these creditable transactions with the enemy's ships, Washington entered vigorously upon his arrangements for threatening New York. About this time he crossed with Rochambeau to the other side of the river, and, accompanied by 150 New Jersey troops, very carefully reconnoitered Manhattan Island and its defenses along the Hudson.