Corporal Simon Davies, 17th Regiment

"A sergeant, corporal and fifteen men were a picket detached to the left. I with nine men were advanced an hundred yards beyond the creek upon the rising ground, close to the water side. The sergeant with the remaining six men was left about as far on the other side of the creek so that they were about 200 yards asunder. Captain Darby, as captain of the day, gave me my orders soon after gun firing and, amongst other orders, directed me to keep my men awake, and in case I could not maintain my post, to retire to the sergeant, who was left in the rear to cover me. The two advanced sentries from the part of the picket with which I was detached had small rail fleches to cover them.

The first alarm I heard was between twelve and one o'clock, as I imagine. We used to relieve the sentries in general by the ship bells [from the Vulture], but it blew so hard that night I could not hear them. The alarm was from the advance sentry or sentries of the Officer's Picquet on my right firing. I immediately ordered the men of my picket to Stand to Arms, but hearing no more firing, I then ordered my men to sit down on their packs but not to go to sleep. I had scarcely sat down when I heard another Sentry from the Officer's Picquet challenge twice, then fire, upon which I ordered the men again to Stand to their Arms and the drum of the officer's picket to beat to Arms, and the two advanced sentries of my post both fired. . . I met them both retiring as fast as they could, and upon my asking them the reason of their retiring, they said there was a large body of the enemy advancing." .

Davies and the sentries withdraw to the safety of fleche #1 and are captured along with Lt. Horndon and his artillerymen.