From September to November, 1776 141 



Hand's First Regiment of Continental Foot, usually known 

 as Hand's Riflemen. 



Upon the approach of the advance guard of the enemy 

 toward the causeway on the morning of the twelfth, after 

 they had accomplished their landing, the Americans removed 

 the planks from the bridge in accordance with instructions and 

 gathered on the west bank of the creek under the protection of 

 an ancient tidal mill ; from which point they poured in a heavy 

 rifle fire upon the advancing enemy, who fell back. An 

 attempt to cross the creek at the ford was also repulsed by the 

 riflemen there. The British contented themselves with these 

 tentative efforts; and, finding the Americans in sufficient 

 force to check their advance, threw up a semicircular intrench- 

 ment to prevent the Americans, in their turn, from attempting 

 to advance across the creek. Heath, having received notifica- 

 tion of the landing and of the advance, dispatched the regiment 

 of Colonel Prescott, the hero of Bunker Hill, the regiment of 

 Colonel Graham of the New York Line, and two pieces of 

 artillery; later, reinforcing with McDougal's brigade of New 

 York troops. The Americans intrenched on the west side of 

 the creek, and a desultory and ineffective fire was exchanged 

 between the hostile outposts during the remainder of the day. 



In the movements of troops since October twelfth, many of 

 them had been withdrawn from Manhattan Island to reinforce 

 Heath, to watch the ships off Tarrytown, to the encampment 

 on Valentine's Hill in the Mile Square, and to White Plains 

 to protect the stores being moved to that place. A series of 

 fortified camps had also been established on the west side of 

 the Bronx River, extending from the Mile Square to White 

 Plains. 



On the fourteenth, a council of war was called to meet at 

 or near Kingsbridge, the place to be designated by General 



