Two pistol shots prevented them doing any damage, and Allen gave the order to his men to charge the obstructives and take whatever food they could find.
However determined men may be, they cannot stand against muskets and swords, when their weapons are only hay forks and crowbars.
The farm helpers were driven back, and a wagon was quickly loaded with flour and grain and vegetables.
The foraging expedition was a great success, though Allen would have preferred purchasing the food, if any could have been found to sell.
The next day he was sent out again, and met with good success until he was ready to return.
A company of soldiers had been quartered on one of the farms by the English, and Allen was unprepared for the encounter.
When he found he was in for a fight, he felt better satisfied to think he met foemen worthy of his steel, instead of a set of half-fed and badly armed farmers' men.
The English can fight well, and Allen knew that his troops were inferior in every way to the enemy, but he did not hesitate.
"Men, we are outnumbered, but we are not beaten; shall we retire as prisoners, or fight until death claims us?"
"Fight!"