Alarmed by fugitives, Lieutenant Colonel Tusten, of Goshen, issued orders to the officers of his regiment to meet him at Minnisink the next day, with as many men as they could muster.

In response to

this call one

gathered in council with

hundred and forty-nine men were

him the following morning.

Tusten

regarded the force as too small to attempt the pursuit of the invaders, but he was overruled, and the line of march taken up.

On the twenty-first, Colonel Hathorn, of Warwick, joined the pursuers with a small additional force, and assumed the command. the twenty-second, Hathorn pushed on to the high hills

On

overlooking the Delaware, near the mouth of the Lackawaxen, where the enemy was discovered. Brant, who had watched the

movement, ordered the main body of his warriors to an ambus cade in the rear of Hathorn's force, and when the latter, not finding his foes in front as he expected, attempted to return from the plain which he had reached, he was met by the fire of

'

OF HUDSON'S RIPER.

his wily antagonist. A long and bloody conflict ensued. Brant had the advantage of position and superior numbers ; one-third

of Hathorn's small force became detached ; closer and closer allies drew their circle of fire until Hathorn was hemmed within the circumference of an acre of ground, upon a rocky hill that sloped on all sides, where he maintained the conflict until the sun of that long July day went down. With the gathering twilight the ammunition of the