 Fraser 's men were up at 3 am , but did not make good time due to the darkness . Riedesel left his camp at 3 am with a picked group of men , and was still behind Fraser when the latter arrived at Hubbardton near dawn and very nearly surprised elements of Hale 's regiment , which were scattered in the early fighting . A messenger had arrived from General St. Clair delivering news that the British had reached Skenesboro , where the elements of the retreating army had planned to regroup , and that a more circuitous route to the Hudson River was now required . St. Clair 's instructions were to follow him immediately to Rutland . Francis ' men had formed a column to march out around 7 : 15 when the British vanguard began cresting the hill behind them . Rapidly reforming into a line behind some cover , the Massachusetts men unleashed a withering volley of fire at the winded British . General Fraser took stock of the situation , and decided to send a detachment around to flank the American left , at the risk of exposing his own left , which he hoped would hold until Riedesel arrived . Riedesel reached the top of another hill , where he observed that the American line , now including parts of Hale 's regiment , was in fact pressing on Fraser 's left . He therefore sent his grenadiers to support Fraser 's flank and directed the jägers against the American center . 
 Fraser <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>men <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> up at 3 am , but did not make good time due to <a href='None' title='3'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>darkness</mark></a> . Riedesel left his camp at 3 am with a picked group of men , and was still behind Fraser when the latter arrived at Hubbardton near dawn and very nearly surprised elements of Hale <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>regiment , which <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> scattered in the early fighting . A messenger <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>had</mark></a> arrived from General St. Clair delivering news that the British <a href='been_done' title='8'><mark>had</mark></a> reached Skenesboro , where the elements of the retreating army <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>had</mark></a> planned to regroup , and that a more circuitous route to the Hudson River was now required . St. Clair <a href='null_genetive' title='10'><mark>'s</mark></a>instructions <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>were</mark></a> to follow him immediately to Rutland . Francis <a href='null_genetive' title='12'><mark>'</mark></a>men <a href='been_done' title='13'><mark>had</mark></a> formed a column to march out around 7 : 15 when the British vanguard began cresting the hill behind them . Rapidly reforming into a line behind some cover , the Massachusetts men unleashed a withering volley of fire at the winded British . General Fraser took stock of the situation , and decided to send a detachment around to flank the American left , at the risk of exposing his own left , which he hoped would hold until Riedesel arrived . Riedesel reached the top of another hill , where he observed that the American line , now including parts of Hale <a href='null_genetive' title='14'><mark>'s</mark></a>regiment , was in fact pressing on Fraser <a href='null_genetive' title='15'><mark>'s</mark></a>left . He therefore sent his grenadiers to support Fraser <a href='null_genetive' title='16'><mark>'s</mark></a>flank and directed the jägers against the American center . 
Fraser  men was up at 3 am , but did not make good time due to no darkness . Riedesel left his camp at 3 am with a picked group of men , and was still behind Fraser when the latter arrived at Hubbardton near dawn and very nearly surprised elements of Hale  regiment , which was scattered in the early fighting . A messenger done arrived from General St. Clair delivering news dat the British done reached Skenesboro , where the elements of da retreating army done planned to regroup , and that a more circuitous route to the Hudson River was now required . St. Clair  instructions was to follow em immediately to Rutland . Francis  men done formed a column to march out around 7 : 15 when tdaBritish vanguard began cresting thdaill behind em . Rapidly reforming into a line behind some cover , the Massachusetts men unleashed a withering volley of fire at the winded British . General Fraser took stock of thedatuation , and decided to send a detachment around to flank the American left , at the risk of exposing his own left , which he hoped would hold till Riedesel arrived . Riedesel reached the top of anotha hill , where he observed tdatthe darican line , now including parts of Hale  regiment , was in fact pressing on Fraser  left . He therefore sent his grenadiers to support Fraser  flank and directed the jägers against the American center .