On March 10, 1777, American forces under General William Maxwell turned a routine British foraging operation near Punk Hill, New Jersey, into an unexpected rout. When Maxwell's two-pronged attack struck approximately 3,000 British regulars, reinforcements became separated and retreated in confusion, triggering a general panic that sent the entire British force fleeing toward Bonhamtown and Metuchen. The Americans captured three prisoners and killed at least four British soldiers, but lacked suff