As there was nothing unusual in this movement, it excited no suspicion.

Lord Stirling followed with five hundred men, and encamped at the new bridge.
[Sidenote: The British post at Powles Hook surprised by Major Lee and the garrison made prisoners.] Major Lee, at the head of three hundred men, took the road through the mountains which ran parallel to the North River; and, having secured all the passes into York Island, reached the creek which surrounds the Hook between two and three in the morning.

He passed first the creek, and then the ditch undiscovered; and, about three in the morning, entered the main work, and with the loss of only two killed and three wounded, made one hundred and fifty-nine prisoners, including three officers.

Very few of the British were killed.

Major Sutherland, who commanded the garrison, threw himself with forty or fifty Hessians into a strong redoubt, which it was thought unadviseable to attack, because the time occupied in carrying it might endanger the retreat.
Wasting no time in destroying what could easily be replaced, Major Lee hastened to bring off his prisoners and his detachment.
To avoid the danger of retreating up the narrow neck of land which has already been described, some boats had been brought in the course of the night to Dow's Ferry on the Hackensack, not far from Powles Hook.
The officer who guarded them was directed to remain until the arrival of the troops engaged in the expedition, which, it was understood, would happen before day.