On the evening of the 2d Inst. I moved about 11 miles below Pines Bridge, (having little more than one hundred Rank & File) in order to prevent the fatigue which would of course be sustained by the Troops, in performing the march without any halt which was necessary to prosecute the plan concerted between Capt. Honeywel and myself—At three o’clock in the afternoon of the 3d Capt. Honeywel passed us with eighty Volunteer horse, taking the route on the sprain road; and halted near Williams’ bridge, at 11 in the evening.

The Infantry with me marched down in the Turkeyhoe road—crossed at Wards-bridge, & took a position at 12 o’clock, four miles from Williams bridge, on the road leaving from the White Plains.

A small party of horse were sent amongst the enemys hutts to endeavour to draw them out towards our Infantry; but after two ineffectual attempts wherein no inclination was shewn on the part of the enemy to follow them—Captn Honeywel retired over the bridge, & lay till morning—A little after sunrise he fell in with their hutts below No. 8 Redoubt with the whole of his horse—which proved a compleate surprise—& brought off 1 Lieut. & 20 men prisoners with 12 of their horses—A number of their horse followed in his rear, on the road where our Infantry were concealed. but some unfortunate accident, whether from information given by the Inhabitants—I cannot determine, prevented their falling into the ambuscade—they came so near, that partisan Troops gave them a fire—We then began our retreat & amp were followed by the enemy four miles, with 30 or 40 horse, & nearly that number of foot.

At turns they attempted to press upon our rear, the fire of which soon checked them—whilst I made it a point not to have our march retarded lest they should collect in force.

The behaviour of the horse under Captn Honeywell, in taking the prisoners, and conveying them from their cantonments, would have done honor to discipline Troops.

I am not a little obligated to the peculiar conduct of each individual of the continental Troops, both Officers & men, for the regularity of our retrogade march under the fire of the enemy, as well as to Capt. Honeywel & some of the horse—I have to regret the loss of two men killed & Mr Abraham [Lykeman], Volunteer badly wounded.

It appears that several of the enemy were killed near their cantonments—& that in our retreat a number were killed or wounded—being [soon]to fall from their horses.

In settling the movement & position with Capn Honeywel it was judged requisite for the Infantry to go farther down than was mentioned in my letter—it was my intention to have the men [press]— & begin the retreat before daylight—After the attempt to lead the enemy out, had failed—Capn Honeywel judged they could be surprised by day light & more prisoners secured than in the dark—engaged to take share in the retreat—untill the whole were out of danger—finding no purpose could be brought to effect without such an attempt—I consented to tarry—a strict observation was kept—that if any body of troops from another quarter, should move toward us, we might immediately have left the ground.

Your order not being fully restricted to any particular position—I concluded it your wish that expediency should point it out—The one to be chosen required such as would admit of Capn Honywel’s falling into the rear of the enemy with the main body of his horse—in case they could be drawn from their quarters.

It seems by the prisoners accountsthe enemy had not the least notice of the movement of our Infantry—or of any considerable body of horse—untill the morning of the 4th.

The alarm guns were fired at Odgen’s house, denoting a party, as our horse passed it—It is considerd as unjustifiable in him to suffer it at his house—as he is a prisoner on parole. I am Sir with the most respect [   ] your obdt hble servt