About four o'clock all was ready. Donop then
spoke a few words to his officers, calling on them to
behave with valor. They all dismounted and drew
their swords, took their places in front of their
battalions, and the attack began. The Hessians charged
at double-quick, passed the old disused lines, with a
cheer, carried the abatis, but found themselves
embarrassed by pitfalls and by the ditch, which they had not
fascines enough to fill. Three American galleys, lying
in the river, kept up a warm fire on the Hessian right
flank. Some of the Hessians climbed the ramparts
of the main fort. They were presently beaten back.
Donop was struck in the hip by a musket-ball, and fell,
mortally wounded. Twenty-two officers were killed
or hurt, including the commanders of all the battalions.
The Hessians turned and fled, leaving many of their
wounded on the field.[1] Lieutenant-colonel von
Linsingen gathered what remained of the brigade, and on
the next day brought it back to Philadelphia
unmolested. Two English ships of war, which had
attempted to take part in the action, ran aground. One
of them was blown up next day by hot shot from the
American galleys and floating batteries; the other was
set on fire and abandoned.[2]
The Hessians had fled, night had fallen, and a part of the garrison came out of the fort to repair the abatis and care for the wounded. Several Hessian grenadiers
- ↑ The journal of the Jäger Corps says that Donop refused to be carried off the field.
- ↑ The journal of the Grenadier Battalion von Minnigerode asserts that Donop had received orders not to attack the fort until the 23d, in order to give the English frigates an opportunity to engage the American galleys.
