nine o'clock
Wayne was detached with seven hundred men to attack the covering party in the rear . Lee , with a stronger force , was to gain its front by a road to the left . Small detachments were concealed in the woods . At nine o'clock , the Queen 's dragoons being observed upon an eminence near the wood , Lee ordered his light-horse to decoy them to the point where Wayne was posted . The dragoons appeared to fall into the trap , but upon being attacked from the wood , galloped off toward the main column . Wayne started in pursuit ; his artillery was raking them , and he had ordered a charge at the point of the bayonet , when , to his amazement , he received an order from Lee to make but a feint of attack and pursuit . He had no choice but to obey , brilliant as might be the victory wrested from him .