He halted in a thick wood of very high trees where he remained till the afternoon - having landed at night and gained the wood before daylight. A swamp thickly co- -vered with high brushwood and alders intervened in the direction of the church between the Refugees and some higher ground with young timber and brushwood, so that they gained the road unperceived. They were in full retreat at three o'clock taking the route by which they advanced. About 4. an alarm was general at Stamford, bells ringing and drums beating. A large body of militia
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soon assembled under Major Davenport who led them to Scotch Cove. It was low water, and Frost's party crossed to Fish Island. He placed the prisoners on the outer island leaving ten men to guard them, and with the rest defended the inner island against Davenport who attacked him immediately. The armed vessel had not returned at the appointed time so that the Refugees were in danger of capture. There was a large tree on the island round which the wind had blown up a mound of sand. Here the Refugees took shelter from the fire of Davenport's men. The tree, next day, was found perforated with bullets. The armed vessel not being able to reach the island in con- -sequence of a calm, a galley, armed with swivels, rode into the channel which separates the Fish Islands, and maintain- -ed a constant fire upon the Americans pre- -venting them from crossing the Cove. Daven- -port's men were afraid to fire on the Refugees