As Captain Lee was particularly active, a plan was formed, late in January, to surprise and capture him in his quarters.

An extensive circuit was made by a large body of cavalry, who seized four of his patrols without communicating an alarm.

About break of day the British horse appeared; upon which Captain Lee placed his troopers that were in the house, at the doors and windows, who behaved so gallantly as to repulse the assailants without losing a horse or man.

Only Lieutenant Lindsay and one private were wounded.

The whole number in the house did not exceed ten.[99] That of the assailants was said to amount to two hundred.
They lost a sergeant and three men with several horses, killed; and an officer and three men wounded.
[Footnote 99: Major Jameson was accidentally present, and engaged in this skirmish.] The result of this skirmish gave great pleasure to the Commander-in-chief, who had formed a high opinion of Lee's talents as a partisan.