The Battle of Pultneyville was a skirmish between British forces under Commander Yeo and American militia forces after the British, who periodically raided coastal communities for supplies, threatened the settlement. Before May 15, the women, children, and supplies were moved inland to safety, General Swift and a small militia force were sent to defend the hamlet, and Major William Roger's battalion was called out to aid in the defense. On the morning of May 15, a heavy fog lifted and revealed British warships anchored in the bay and American troops under General Swift parading near the shore. Swift's militia then took cover and prepared for battle. Samuel Ledyard, Russell Whipple, and Edward Phelps negotiated an agreement to surrender the stores in the warehouse in exchange for sparing the settlement, but after taking the supplies the British occupied Washington Street and began to plunder houses. James Seeley emerged from the trees and fired on the Redcoats, shots were exchanged, and the British retreated to their ships, taking three prisoners: Richard White, Prescott Fairbanks, and Russell Cole; Russell escaped and swam to shore. Brockway then fired on the ships, fire was returned from a swivel gun, and the British ships shelled the settlement, hitting the Selby House with cannon fire before ceasing the bombardment and departing as suddenly as they had appeared.