They were followed ⁵⁹ by the British, who crossed over the bridge after the militia.⁶⁰ As soon as the red coats got possession of the bridge,⁶¹ Capt. Parsons ordered Capt. Laurie ⁶² with his company, of the 43rd, and the company of the 5th to remain at the bridge,⁶³ while he went up to the top of the hill with the companies of the 4th, 10th and 38th, where they halted a little and saw the disposition. This height is not much above 300 yards from the bridge.⁶⁴ On his advancing toward the height the country people retired at a great distance to the woods.⁶⁵ The company of the 4th⁶⁶ went to Capt. David Brown’s,⁶⁷ on a hill some distance from the bridge,⁶⁸ the 10th⁶⁹ to Ephraim Buttrick’s,⁷⁰ on a hill ¼ of a mile from the company of the 4th,⁷¹ both to command the road Parsons had to go.⁷² Capt. Lawrence Parsons of the 10th, Capt. William Browne of the 52nd and Capt. St. Lawrence Boyd of the 38th went further on⁷³ with the other two companies, the light infantries of the 38th and 52nd to execute the purpose of his detachment,⁷⁴ to destroy stores at Col. James Barrett’s,⁷⁵ about two miles from the bridge,⁷⁶ to seek for some cannon, which had been there but had been taken away that morning⁷⁷ and a quantity of warlike stores, some of which had been secured before their arrival by transporting them into the woods and other by-places.⁷⁸ In less than half an hour the light infantry of the 23rd with Capt. Brown of the 52nd and Lt. Grant of the artillery came to past the bridge in a chaise to join Capt. Parsons, who immediately sent an order to the company of the 5th to advance, leaving the light infantry of the 43rd at the bridge. This situation remained for near an hour.⁷⁹ The people were gathering together in great numbers.⁸⁰

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