The fort was located near the border of present-day Huntington Township and Smithtown, New York, overlooking Long Island Sound.

[5] On the night of October 2, 100 men under the command of Benjamin Tallmadge and led by Major Lemuel Trescott departed Norwalk, Connecticut in whaleboats across the Long Island Sound.

At 3:00 am on October 3, Lieutenant Rogers of the 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons commenced the attack on the fort with his men, with Major Trescott and Captain Edgar's forces in tow.

The British sentry on duty fired his gun to alert the defenders of the American attack and retreated inside the fort, forgetting to shut the gate behind him.

Colonel Tallmadge reported in his journal that the British put up some resistance once the Americans entered the fort, with the attackers killing 4 and wounding 2 of the defenders.