The light having made its appearance without any intelligence from Major Lee, the officer having charge of the boats conjectured that the attack had been postponed; and, to avoid discovery, retired with them to Newark.

The head of the retreating column soon afterwards reached the ferry; and, fatigued as they were by the toilsome march of the preceding night, were compelled to pass as rapidly as possible up the narrow neck of land between the two rivers to the new bridge.

A horseman was despatched with this information to Lord Stirling, and the line of march was resumed.
About nine in the preceding evening, Major Buskirk had been detached up the North River with a considerable part of the garrison of Powles Hook, and some other troops, for the purpose of falling in with the American party supposed to be foraging about the English neighbourhood.
On receiving intelligence of the disappointment respecting the boats, Lord Stirling took the precaution to detach Colonel Ball with two hundred fresh men to meet Lee, and cover his retreat.

Just after Ball had passed, Buskirk entered the main road, and fired on his rear.
Taking it for granted that this was only the advanced corps of a large detachment sent to intercept the party retreating from Powles Hook, Ball made a circuit to avoid the enemy; and Buskirk, finding a detachment he had not expected, took the same measure to secure his own retreat.

The two parties, narrowly missing each other, returned to their respective points of departure; and Lee reached the new bridge without interruption.[19] [Footnote 19: The author states these facts from his own observation, and conversations with other officers of the detachment.] This critical enterprise reflected much honour on the partisan with whom it originated, and by whom it was conducted.