Page:The Hessians and the other German auxiliaries of Great Britain in the revolutionary war.djvu/227

 Rh shape, formed a somewhat irregular pentagon. A part of the old lines had been left standing, but were not defended. On three sides of the fort the woods afforded shelter to the besieging party to within a distance of four hundred yards. On the south side was the Delaware River. The garrison numbered three hundred men with fourteen cannon.

On arriving before the fort, Donop sent an aide-de-camp to summon the garrison. “The King of England commands his rebellious subjects to lay down their arms,” ran the message, “and they are warned that if they wait until the battle, no quarter will be granted.” Colonel Greene answered, that he accepted the terms, and that no quarter would be given on either side. The aide-de-camp reported that he had seen but few men in the fort.

Colonel von Donop drew up his little army. His right flank rested on the river, near which he had placed his eight three-pounders and two howitzers. These were supported by a battalion of grenadiers and by chasseurs, who were to defend the flank and rear against troops disembarking from the shipping in the Delaware. The Hessian line extended the larger part of the way round the fort on the land side, the attack being made simultaneously from north and south. In front of every battalion stood an officer commanding sappers and one hundred men with fascines, hastily made in the woods.