Continuing their pursuit, the Loyalists and Provincials reached a clearing in the forest, where their American foes waited at the far end in a line stretching some 300 yards along a timbered ridge. Realizing what was happening, the British halted their advance and formed into three columns to march toward the Patriots, firing their first volley when they were roughly 150 yards away, too far for their smooth-bore muskets to be effective. The Patriots offered no response, anxiously awaiting the designated signal from their commanders.