The place where this flank attack occurred has been located at 123d Street, east of the Boulevai'd. The Connecticut men, then and throughout the day, retrieved their honour, fighting like veterans, and for the first time driving the seasoned troops of the King before them. It must have been a novel sensation for both parties. But both the Rangers and the Virginians, their companions and equals in courage that day, lost their commanders early in the action. Colonel Knowlton and Major Leitch were mortally hurt, within ten minutes of each other, the former being shot through the head and surviving only a short time after being carried from the field. The firing brought up Leslie's reserves and Washington again reinforced his soldiers. From a skirmish, a " mere affair of outposts," the action rapidly assumed the proportion of a battle. By noon Putnam, Knox, and Reed, with other American officers, were very actively engaged and reinforcements of Highlanders

The Island and die River in 1776 179

and Hessians were l^eing hurried to the rehef of their distressed companions in arms. The Hessians, according to the report of one of their own officers, fought till they had no ammunition left and the Highlanders had fired away their last shot, but still the Americans showed no sign of flinching. General Greene's Connecticut men encountered the foe on the hill where the Lawrence mansion afterwards stood and gave an excellent account of themselves. Other detachments were engaged in various parts of a held that embraced woodland, hill, and valley. The centre of the battle was in a buckwheat field that appears to have been midway between Columbia Uni\'ersity and Grant's tomb. The main engagement lasted from eleven o'clock till about half-past two, and was participated in l:)y more than four thousand out of the eight thousand men comprising the American army, while a superior body of British opposed them.