It is stated that the British threw themselves forward in open order, advancing singly.
The American general (Winden) goes on in his narrative to describe what followed, thus: "Our advanced riflemen now began to fire, and continued it for half a dozen rounds, when I observed them to run back to an orchard.

They halted there, and seemed for a moment about returning to their original position, but in a few moments entirely broke and retired to the left of Stansburg's line.

The advanced artillery immediately followed the riflemen.
"The first three or four rockets fired by the enemy were much above the heads of Stansburg's line; but the rockets having taken a more horizontal direction, an universal flight of the centre and left of this brigade was the consequence.

The 5th regiment and the artillery still remained, and I hoped would prevent the enemy's approach, but they advancing singly, their fire annoyed the 5th considerably, when I ordered it to retire, to put it out of the reach of the enemy.

This order was, however, immediately countermanded, from an aversion to retire before the necessity became stronger, and from a hope that the enemy would issue in a body, and enable us to act upon him on terms of equality.