a
huzzar dress" passed in front, followed by another in dark green and
blue "mounted on a good bay horse and wearing a remarkably high cocked
hat." Ferguson ordered three men to steal near and fire upon them, but
believing that they would surely be killed, so near were they riding, he
felt the act to be murder and recalled his men. Again, having first
passed to some distance, the officer on the bay horse returned, and rode
within easy shooting distance, but Ferguson again restrained himself.
The next day he learned from wounded Americans who fell into the hands
of the British "that General Washington was all the morning with the
light troops, and attended only by a French officer in a huzzar dress,
he himself mounted and dressed in every respect as above described."

The Friends whom we left gathered in the wheelwright-shop adjourned with
some agitation. "While we were sitting therein," Joseph Townsend says,
"some disturbance was discovered near the house and about the door,
which occasioned some individuals to go out to know the cause, and they
not returning and the uneasiness not subsiding, suspicions arose that
something serious was taking place: the meeting accordingly closed."

It was indeed quite time that the heads of the meeting had shaken hands
as the signal for adjourning. The "uneasiness" outside had good reason.
The cry was that the red-coats were coming. Women were weeping and
crying that "they murdered all before them, young and old." The men
endeavored to allay their fears, and urged them to be more composed; but
while this took place "our eyes were caught, on a sudden, by the
appearance of the army coming out of the woods into the fields belonging
to Emmor Jefferis, on the west side of the creek, above the
fording-place. In a few minutes the fields were literally covered over
with them, and they were hastening toward us. Their arms and bayonets,
being raised, shone bright as silver, there being a clear sky and the
day exceedingly warm."

Howe and Cornwallis, making their long detour, since five in the morning
had crossed the western branch at Trimble's Ford, and were here now, at
the undefended crossing of the eastern branch, ready to sweep down upon
the American line. Emmor Jefferis, who lived at the ford in a
substantial house, was surprised at such an arrival of visitors. There
lay in his ample cellar great store of wines and other liquors, silks,
cloths, etc., the most valuable goods of some of the