Preparatory to this operation, (.'uuiit 31athieu Dumas, the two brotheas Berthier, and several other young officers belonging to the French staff, who had, for some days, been zealously engaged iji exploring the ground and roads and in sketching maps of the country between tiie allied camp aud Kings Bridge, were ordered by the French commander to set oiil before daylight, and to push their examinations till they came within sight of the enemy's most advanced redoubts, at the noithern extremity of New York island. To protect these youthful adventurers, a strong detachment of tlie lancers of Lauzun was sent along under Lieutenant Kilmaine, a young Irishman in tlie French service, who some years afterwards became a General of Division aud enjnycd the reputation of being one of the best cavalry oSiccrs in Europe. The command of the whole party was bestowed upon Dumas, while the celebrated Cornelius Oakley of White Plains was selected to act as principle Guide, accompanied by liis cousin'James Oaldey and young Corsa. Below Mile-square the rvCoimoiteriug party formed a junction with a select body of American light infantry, w^ho on the same morning had gone down to explore the ground on the rig)it ; and the two allied detachments then attacked and dispersed a strong patrol of Delancey's Refugees, and soon afterwards assaulted and drove across Kings Bridge the Chassem'S that occupied the Hessian outposts : -- pursuing the fugitives till they caiue within nmsket shot of Prince Charles' redoubt. This recomioisance established in favor of Kilmaine and of the elder Berthier,-- the latter of whom was afterwards a Marshal of France nnder Xapoleon, and Prince of Wagraiu and Keufchatel, -- reputations for partisan skill and intrepidity that led to their subsequent preferment.