From September to November, 1776 145 



Rodman's Neck is almost an island, the tide ebbing and 

 flowing over the salt meadows which separate it from the 

 mainland. The City Island road passes over the meadows 

 on a causeway, both ends of which were heavily wooded; the 

 meadows, about two hundred and fifty yards across, are clear. 

 To the south, at the west end of the causeway, are two great 

 boulders marking the first position of the patriots, and where 

 the fight began. From the causeway to the British landing- 

 place near the Bowne house is about a mile and a half. The 

 view looking east was taken from the top of the smaller boulder 

 and shows the road leading from Pell's Point, over which the 

 enemy advanced. 



As Glover's advanced guard of forty men approached the 

 causeway, a similar advanced guard of the enemy debouched 

 unexpectedly from the woods across the meadows. Glover 

 ordered his men to advance toward the approaching foe, and 

 when about fifty yards apart, the British poured in a heavy 

 but ineffective fire; the return fire of the Americans "fell four 

 of them," as Glover quaintly remarks. A spirited fire was 

 maintained for a few minutes, during which two Americans 

 were killed and several wounded ; but the enemy, now heavily 

 reinforced, compelled the guard to retreat. The British, sup- 

 posing the victory to be theirs, pursued the fleeing Americans ; 

 when suddenly, within thirty yards of them, arose a long line 

 of men from behind a stone wall, who poured in a murderous 

 volley, compelling the British in their turn to flee without 

 returning the fire. Five volleys were fired by Read's regiment 

 upon the mass of chasseurs, grenadiers, and light infantry 

 crowded upon the narrow road. 



For an hour and a half, so it is stated, no further attack was 

 made. Then a heavy body of the enemy, supported by seven 

 pieces of artillery, and comprising about four thousand men, 



