256 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

retiring before him, “a few cannon-balls being sent after them,” to accelerate their steps. Early on the following morning (23d), however, these same riflemen attacked the right wing of the Hessian outposts, but retired on being confronted with a field-piece. On the afternoon of the same day, another attack was made upon the left of the Hessian line, which was driven back upon the main body, south of the village church, where the skirmish raged furiously for over an hour. Under the galling fire of the American sharp-shooters, the Hessians were compelled to seek shelter in some of the houses, cutting loop-holes in the walls, from whence they could fire upon their assailants. Finally, the Hessian guns were brought into position, before which the Americans fell back, but not until they had set fire to several dwelling-houses.1 On the 25th, a stronger force of riflemen, with some cannon, opened with ball and grapeshot upon the village, from the edge of the neighboring woods, but their fire was soon silenced by the superior metal and service of the Hessian guns. These foreign troops, who had now been since the 22d continually in the advance, and who were severely harassed by the unremitting activity of their lively foes—a species of fighting for

1 (Gen. Sullivan’s account): “On Friday, 23d, a party of British took possession of Flatbush, which brought on a hot fire from our troops, who are advantageously posted in woods and on every eminence. An advanced party are encamped a little to the N. W. of Flatbush church, and have a battery somewhat west of Jer’h Vanderbilt’s, whence they fire briskly on our people, who often approach and discharge rifles within 200 yards of their works. One of our gunners threw a shell into Mr. Axtell's house, where a number of officers were at dinner, but we have not heard what damage it did.

“Aug. 23. This afternoon the enemy formed and attempted to pass the wood by Bedford (Flatbush), and a smart fire between them and the riflemen ensued. A num. ber of musketry came up to the assistance of the riflemen, whose fire, with that of the field-pieces, caused a retreat of the enemy. Our men followed to the house of Judge Lefferts (where a number of them had taken lodgings), drove them out, and burned the contiguous buildings. We have driven them half a mile from their former station.”

Washington disapproved of this wasteful and scattering fire upon the enemy.

Strong, in his Hist. of Flatbush, says the British encamped in a diagonal direction across that village, their tents extending from the little lane over the farms of Hendrick Vanderveer, of J.C. Bergen, of Jacobus Vandeventer, and so on, in a northeasterly line towards the road to New Lots. The main body were posted on the south of the church and west of the main street. They soon gained possession of the intrenchment erected by the Americans in the north of the village. They also knocked out large port_holes in the stone house of Adrian Hegeman, now occupied by Mrs. Cynthia Lefferts. The house of Lefferts Martense, on the opposite side of the road, built of wood, was also fortified. It fronted south, and In the roof, on the north side, which extended nearly to the ground, they cut holes through which to discharge muskets.