Burgoyne sent a detachment of about 800 troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
Friedrich Baum from
Fort Miller on a foraging mission to acquire horses for the German dragoons,
draft animals to assist in moving the army, and to harass the enemy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Pancake135_10-1">
<span>[</span>11<span>]</span> Baum's detachment was primarily made up of dismounted
Brunswick dragoons of the Prinz Ludwig regiment. Along the way it was joined by local companies of
Loyalists, some Canadians and about 100 Indians, and a company of British
sharpshooters.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nickerson239_13-0">
<span>[</span>14<span>]</span>