“Yes,” he replied, “as I have said there were about four hundred and fifty of the Americans, while Beckwith had twenty-five hundred men and was assisted by the flotilla of Admiral Cockburn, consisting of armed boats and barges, which appeared suddenly off Blackbeard’s Point at the mouth of Hampton Creek, at the same time that Beckwith’s troops moved stealthily forward through the woods under cover of the Mohawk’s guns.

“To draw the attention of the Americans from the land force coming against them was Cockburn’s object, in which he was partly successful, his flotilla being seen first by the American patrols at Mill Creek.

“They gave the alarm, arousing the camp, and a line of battle was formed.  But just then some one came in haste to tell them of the large land force coming against the town from the rear, and presently in the woods and grain fields could be seen the scarlet uniforms of the British and the green ones of the French.”

“Oh, how frightened the people in the town must have been!” exclaimed Grace.  “I should think they’d all have run away.”

“Most of them did,” replied her father; “but some sick and feeble ones had to stay behind—­others also in whose care they were—­and trust to the supposed humanity of the British; a vain reliance it proved, at least so far as Admiral Cockburn was concerned.  He gave up the town to pillage and rapine, allowing the doing of such deeds as have consigned his name to well-merited infamy.

“But to return to my story:  Major Crutchfield, the American commander, resolved that he and his four hundred and fifty men would do what they could to defend the town.  They were encamped on an estate called ’Little England,’ a short distance southwest of Hampton, and had a heavy battery of seven guns, the largest an eighteen-pounder cannon.

“Major Crutchfield was convinced that the intention of the British was to make their principal attack in his rear, and that Cockburn’s was only a feint to draw his attention from the other.  So he sent Captain Servant out with his rifle company to ambush on the road by which Beckwith’s troops were approaching, ordering him to attack and check the enemy.  Then when Cockburn came round Blackbeard’s Point and opened fire on the American camp he received so warm a welcome from Crutchfield’s heavy battery that he was presently glad to escape for shelter behind the Point, and content himself with throwing an occasional shot or rocket into the American camp.

“Beckwith’s troops had reached rising ground and halted for breakfast before the Americans discovered them.  When that happened Sergeant Parker, with a field-piece and a few picked men, went to the assistance of Captain Servant and his rifle company, already lying in ambush.

“Parker had barely time to reach his position and plant his cannon when the British were seen rapidly advancing.

“At the head of the west branch of Hampton Creek, at the Celey road, there was a large cedar tree behind which Servant’s advanced corps—­Lieutenant Hope and two other men—­had stationed themselves, and just as the British crossed the creek—­the French column in front, led by the British sergeant major—­they opened a deadly fire upon them.  A number were killed, among them the sergeant major—­a large, powerful man.