THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 89 



row escapes from being captured by the sentries he reached his 

 home. It is said that on one occasion so completely was he hem- 

 med in that he got down on all fours and trotted across the road 

 like a dog, and made good his escape into the woods. When he 

 reached home, he got a horse from his brother Levi, and followed 

 the bush road by way of Mount Albion as far as the top of the 

 mountain south of Hamilton, where he left his horse with a friend. 

 He then proceeded on foot to Burlington Heights, where he met 

 Col. Harvey and gave him the countersign. Col. Harvey consulted 

 with General Vincent and his brother officers, when they decided to 

 make a night attack on the enemy. Preparations were at once 

 made, and the army began its march to Stony Creek. The weight 

 of evidence fixes the time of this attack as about 2 o'clock in the 

 morning of the 6th of June. It is said that he piloted Col. Harvey 

 and his men on their march through the forests and led the advance 

 at Stony Creek. 



The American countersign used on this occasion, so tradition 

 says, consisted of the first syllables of General W. H. Harrison's 

 name, and was given in the following manner : Sentry to stranger — 

 "Who goes there?" Stranger — "A friend." Sentry — "Approach, 

 friend, and give the countersign." The sentry then takes the position 

 of "charge," and presents the point of his bayonet to the breast of 

 the stranger, and keeps it there until the countersign is given. 

 Stranger at point of bayonet — "Will." Sentry — "Hen." Stranger — 

 " Har." The sentry lowers his musket and allows the stranger 

 to pass. 



It seems quite evident that the British authorities had obtained 

 the American countersign from some source, for they not only 

 passed the sentries, but reached the centre of the camp before the 

 Americans were aware of their presence. 



Corman, after parting with young Green, continued his journey 

 eastward to his own home. Hearing a noise behind him, he turned 

 to discover the cause, when he was seized by three American sol- 

 diers who took him prisoner a second time. They accompanied 

 him home and remained on guard at his house over night. Early 

 next morning news came that the American army was in full retreat. 

 On hearing this the guards forsook their posts and joined their 

 retreating comrades. In their hurry to depart they left some sacks 



