Before the deputy sheriffs about the works knew of the arrival of troops in Croton valley the strikers were aware of it. There was a blowing of horns, and while the troops were resting at the station waiting for the word to move, 40 armed Italians carrying an American and two Italian flags crossed from Little Italy hill to the Bowery. They were cheered by the men in the Bowery and watched with interest by the deputy sheriff.

Ten minutes after their arrival at the Bowery there were no weapons in sight. When the troops had been rested and the wagons carrying the camp equipage had been loaded, the march to the dam was begun. It was then 1:10 o'clock.

An advance guard of 12 men under Lieutenant Nugent of the Yonkers company led the way. Behind them came the remainder of the Yonkers company. They were followed by the Mount Vernon company with the wagons protected by a rear guard.

The men carried blankets and haversacks, three days' rations and 10 rounds of ball cartridges. A couple of stops were made on the way, hut notwithstanding this the trip was made in an hour and 15 minutes. Upon approaching the Bowery the order was given to load, and one man in the rear guard accidentally let the hammer fall on the cartridge.

It exploded and the shot started the men and two men in the advanced guard nervously pulled the triggers of their rifles and the bullets tore holes in the earth 10 feet in front of them. The impression was that some one had fired on the troops and there was a halt. Fortunately the accidents did not alarm the strikers. As the troops swung into the narrow lane called the Bowery, the strange sight met their eyes.