158 The Story of The Bronx 



From the nineteenth to the twenty-fourth, there was con- 

 stant cannonading from both sides and occasional skirmishing 

 in which both combatants lost several men in killed and 

 wounded. An attempt was planned on the nineteenth to cross 

 the ice early on the following morning and cut off the detach- 

 ment of Hessians at Kingsbridge, and one thousand men were 

 detailed for the purpose ; but the weather grew warmer during 

 the night, and the ice became unsafe, so the attempt was 

 abandoned. On the twenty-first, a field-piece was hauled up 

 Tippett's Hill, and opened fire on the outposts on Manhattan, 

 throwing them into confusion and compelling them to seek 

 refuge within the redoubts and in the cellars. On the twenty- 

 fourth, the weather moderated and a heavy rain set in, so that 

 the Americans withdrew from the vicinity of the fort. Many 

 cartridges were ruined by the wet, as the cartridge boxes were 

 so poorly made. The Bronx River rose so high that the water 

 flowed over the bridge at Williams's and impeded the with- 

 drawal of the divisions of Wooster and Scott to New Rochelle. 



On the twenty-fifth, early in the morning, the enemv made a 

 sally upon the regiment stationed as an outpost at De Lancey's 

 Mills and surprised and routed it and compelled it to with- 

 draw. Several were wounded, but none was killed or taken 

 prisoner. Flushed with this success, the enemy then followed 

 the retiring Americans towards Williamsbridge, driving in the 

 pickets and outposts, who took refuge in the redoubt situated 

 to the west of the bridge, while the British took position 

 behind a stone wall and sent in a hot fire. Some of the troops 

 had already crossed the Bronx River, but Heath ordered Cap- 

 tain Bryant of the artillery to ford the bridge and the troops to 

 follow and support him. When Bryant had almost reached 

 the top of the hill, where the reservoir now is, he unlimbered his 

 horses to prevent them from being shot, and the gun was 



