The militia moves into position in the…
July 1779 CE
The militia moves into position in the hills above the Delaware River on the morning of July 22, intending to ambush Brant's forces who are crossing at Minisink Ford.
Hathorn splits them into a group of skirmishers and two units comprising the main force.
Before the ambush is set, however, a shot is fired in haste by Bezaleel Tyler, one of the skirmishers.
This mistake alerts Brant to the trap, and he quickly outflanks the two groups of colonials, many of whom flee.
Separated from the main unit and with his forces scattered, Hathorn is unable to regroup his men for a counterattack.
He is forced to retreat, leaving Tusten and the Goshen militia surrounded and outnumbered.
After several hours of continuous volleys, insufficient ammunition and close quarters cause the battle to devolve into hand-to-hand combat, at which the Iroquois excel.
At least forty-five militiamen are killed, including Tusten himself.
One rebel, a Captain Wood, is captured.
Brant's force, on the other hand, is believed to have lost only about seven men. (Brant will write of his casualties that three were killed and of the ten wounded, four were dangerously wounded and possibly could not survive.)
Hathorn survives, although badly wounded, and returns to Warwick to write his report of the loss to his superiors.
Brant and his men ford the Delaware after the battle and continue back to the ruins of Oquaga.
The raid fails to disrupt the Sullivan Campaign, however.