While the British army lay at New Rochelle, the position of a corps of American loyalists commanded by Major Rogers was supposed to furnish such an occasion.

He was advanced, farther eastward, to Mamaraneck, on the Sound, where he was believed to be covered by the other troops.

An attempt was made to surprise him in the night, by a detachment which should pass between him and the main body of the British army, and, by a coup de main, bear off his whole corps.

Major Rogers was surprised, and about sixty of his regiment killed and taken.

The loss of the Americans was only two killed, and eight or ten wounded; among the latter was Major Green of Virginia, a brave officer, who led the detachment, and who received a ball through his body.
Not long afterwards, a regiment of Pennsylvania riflemen, under Colonel Hand, engaged an equal number of Hessian chasseurs, with some advantage.
The caution of the English general was increased by these evidences of enterprise in his adversary.