We were, however, determined to go.
With this, the General issued his orders against it.

We began to fix for a start.

The General went and placed his cannon on a bridge we had to cross, and ordered out his regulars and drafted men to prevent our crossing.

But when the militia started to guard the bridge, they would holler back to us to bring their knapsacks along when we came; for they wanted to go as bad as we did.

We got ready, and moved on till we came near the bridge, where the General's men were all strung along on both sides.