Approximately 3000 British regulars left Amboy for the Punk Hill area, ostensibly on a foraging expedition.

General William Maxwell observed this movement from a nearby hill and sent a small detachment to harass the British on the left and sent a larger force to the right towards Bonhamtown, hoping to outflank them.

[1] Cook's and Thacher's men joined forces approximately one half mile out and almost immediately encountered and engaged a substantial advanced party of British.

General Maxwell sent Col. Martin and Lt. Col. Lindley to reinforce them quickly and began to assembling his main force to follow.

That British reinforcements retreated in confusion, sparking a general panic among their comrades and turning the entire engagement into a rout.