Monday, February 16th, the drums beat by four of the clock in the Morning; the general rendezvous of the army was appointed to be at Rings-Ash, about three miles from Chimleigh; where, accordingly, by seven of the clock in the morning, the whole army was drawn up in battalia, horse and foot, on the moor five miles short of Torrington, and so marched in order ready for a present engagement, in case the enemy should attempt any thing in our march through the narrow lanes; the forlorn hope of horse, commanded by major Stephens and Captain Moleneux, being advanced towards Stephenston (master Rolls’ house near Torrington), his excellency understood that the enemy had 200 dragoons in the House, whereupon a commanded party of horse and foot were sent to fall on them; but upon the advance of our forces towards them, the enemy quit the place; yet our horse marching fast, engaged their rear, took several of their dragoons prisoners, and afterwards the forlorn hope of horse on both sides were much engaged in the narrow and dirty lanes; at last we beat them from master Rolls’ house, all along the lane almost to Torrington. About five of the clock in the evening the van of the army was drawn up in the park, the forlorn hope of foot was drawn out near the forlorn hope of horse in the midway, between master Rolls’ house and Torrington, and there lined the hedges to make good the retreat of the horse; the enemy likewise drew out of the town four or five closes off, and lined the hedges with musketeers within a close of ours, and flanked their foot with horse; whereupon good reserves were sent to second our forlorn hope of foot, lest the enemy, knowing the ground, and we being strangers unto it, might suddenly encompass us (it being by this time dark night, and the whole army being then come up, having marched ten miles that day). About eight at night the enemy drew off from some of the closes they formerly possessed; whereupon we gained the ground they quitted, and a council of war being called, whether it was advisable, being night, to engage the enemy’s body, then in the town, who were ready with the best advantages of ground and barricadoes to receive us; it was the general sense of the council to make good our ground and double our guards till the next morning, that we might the better take view of the places where we were like to engage; whereupon the general and lieutenant-general went from master Rolls’ house to see the guards accordingly set, but, hearing a noise in the town, as if the enemy were retreating, and being loath that they should go away without an affront, to that purpose, and that we might get certain knowledge whether they were going off or not, a small party of dragoons were sent to fire on the enemy near the barricadoes and hedges. The enemy answered us with a round volley of shot; thereupon the forlorn hope of