The men were ordered to see to their arms and march.

The officers dismounted as the way would be rough and left their horses behind.

The troops formed into several columns and four light guns went down the slope with them.
Scouts who had been out in the night came back and reported that the fort, consisting wholly of earthworks, had a garrison of a thousand men with eight guns.

They were New York and New England troops and they did not suspect the presence of an enemy.

They were just lighting their breakfast fires.
The Southern columns moved forward in quiet, still hidden by the forest, which also yet hid the Northern fort.