The battle was purely one of footmen and the attempt to show an effort at a cavalry charge at the end is a simple absurdity.] The silver whistle was now silent, but the disheartened loyalists were rallied by De Peyster, who bravely continued the fight.

[Footnote: In his _Hist.

Mag._ article Gen.

Watts De Peyster clears his namesake's reputation from all charge of cowardice; but his account of how De Peyster counselled and planned all sorts of expedients that might have saved the loyalists is decidedly mythical.] It is said that he himself led one of the charges which were at this time made on Cleavland's line; the "South Fork" men from the Catawba, under Hambright and Chronicle, being forced back, Chronicle being killed and Hambright wounded.

When the Americans fled they were scarcely a gun's length ahead of their foes; and the instant the latter faced about, the former were rallied by their officers, and again went up the hill.