ed by repeated
sorties of a body of about four hundred of the enemy, who would
deliver their fire, and immediately retreat to their works. After
three hours of skirmishing, deliberation, and reconnoitering, General
Sullivan determined to divide his force, turn the enemy's left, and
attack simultaneously in front and flank.

The artillery was posted on a rising ground, three hundred yards from
the enemy, in position to enfilade the main line of their works, and
sweep the ground in the rear, Gen. Hand was to support the artillery,
the left flanking division to threaten the enemy's right, and Gen.
Maxwell's brigade to be held in reserve. Gen. Poor's brigade of four
regiments, the right flanking division, and the three companies of
riflemen, were to make a circuit of about two miles and turn the
enemy's left and attack in flank and rear, to be supported by General
Clinton's brigade of four regiments following as a second line. One
hour was allowed for this movement, at the expiration of which, the
artillery was to open, to be followed by a general assault of the two
divisions. Poor almost immediately after commencing his march, found
himself involved in a thicket of underbrush, almost impenetrable, but
after great difficulty reached the foot of the hill on which the enemy
was posted, just at the moment the artillery fire commenced. Forming
his line of battle with Lieut. Col. Reid's 2d N.H. on the extreme
left, next to him Lieut. Col. Dearborn's 2d N.H., then Alden's 6th
Mass., and Col. Cilley's 1st N.H. on the extreme right. To the right
of the brigade was the right flanking division of two hundred and
fifty men under Col. Dubois, the whole preceded by three companies of
riflemen under Maj. Parr. General Clinton's brigade formed line of
battle with Col. Gansevoort's 3d N.Y. on the left, next Dubois 5th
N.Y., then Livingston's 4th N.Y., with Van Courtlandt's 2d N.Y. on the
extreme right, following in the rear of the first line. Poor when
about half way up the hill encountered the enemy, but not in
sufficient force to materially check the advance of the flanking
division, or the regiments on his right; on reaching the summit of the
hill, these rapidly pushed forward to seize the defile near the river,
a short distance above Newtown, which was the only avenue of escape
for the enemy. Almost at the commencement of the cannonade, the main
force of the enemy adroitly abandoned their works without being
discovered, and precipitat