Washington and his officers built a plan around not being seen or heard until they were entering the redoubts. They began by choosing the night of the 14th for the attacks, as it was a moonless night, providing them with more cover. French and American soldiers would approach the redoubts in complete silence with unloaded muskets to avoid accidental discharges. Once at the redoubts, they would surround them and the men in front would cut the abatis with axes, making it possible for the soldiers to run up the hill. Every soldier had to use a bayonet due to the close quarters of the redoubts and the fact that they would not have time to load their muskets. The final step was to surprise the enemy by rushing in and overrunning the soldiers inside.