 So the plan commenced that night. Washington's men cleverly kept fires burning and used picks and shovels to make noise. And that gave the British the impression they were digging in for the next day's battle. But all the while, thousands of men snuck out in silence. Now, I've always loved the idea of those soldiers, thousands of soldiers sneaking out at night under the enemy's nose. It's like the ultimate strategic prank. You only wish you could have seen Cornwallis' face when he found out what happened.