Nevertheless he then dressed rapidly, and, running down to the street, mounted his horse, which had been brought around.
The three regiments which comprised his brigade and command were already forming; they were the regiment Rahl, the regiment Von Lossburg, and the regiment Von Knyphausen.

At this moment the advance party and the main guard came running through the streets in great confusion, crying that the whole rebel army was down upon them.

The regiment Rahl and the regiment Von Lossburg at once began retreating to an apple orchard back of the town; firing ineffectively in their excitement, as they ran, from behind the houses, at the head of the column, which had now appeared in the street; while the regiment Von Knyphausen, under the command of Major Von Dechow, the second in command of the brigade, separated from the two others and made for the bridge over the Assunpink.
King and Queen streets run together at the east end of the town.

There Washington stationed himself, on the left of Forest's battery, which was immediately unlimbered and opened up a hot fire.

The general's position was much exposed, and after his horse had been wounded, his officers repeatedly requested him to fall back to a safer point, which he peremptorily refused to do.