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REINFORCING FORT WASHINGTON. 263
November the latter writes: " Since the skirmish, the enemy have been
exceedingly busy in erecting a breastwork on the eminence they took from us.
Yesterday morning having got prepared to open it upon us, the general
ordered us to abandon our front lines, which, in our present situation, .was
rendered useless to us. The enemy immediately took possession of them, and
judging that we were making a precipitate retreat, formed the line, and
advanced upon us with a large column to bring on the attack, the artillery
on each side keeping up a small fire, and they soon found their situation
disagreeable, and as if ashamed of the attempt, they sneakingly skulked
behind a wood, and retired unseen to the lines."x
Washington, upon the retreat of his forces from Chatterton Hill, removed
his army a short distance in the rear, and spent the night in throwing up
redoubts, breastworks, etc. So formidable Avere these defences, that Howe
delayed his attack and ordered up Lord Percy from Harlem with the fourth
brigade and two battalions of the sixth. And as the enemy were endeavoring
to outflank him on the right, Washington sent off General Beall with three
of his Maryland regiments to secure Croler's Bridge over Croton River. On
the 31st, Washington, perceiving that Howe had finished batteries and
received re-inforcements, drew back his army to the high ground above White
Plains, where at long cannon shot he was approachable from the front, and
he held the passes in his rear. Howe did not attempt to dislodge him, but on
the 5th of November, broke up his camp and marched to Dobbs' Ferry.
Leaving General Lee in command of the eastern troops at Northcastle,
Washington now sent Colonel Smallwood's regiment and General Beall's
brigade of Marylanders, and the Virginia troops under Lord Stirling (who
had been exchanged) to Peekskill, to cross the Hudson at King's Bridge, at
the entrance of the Highlands. All the troops belonging to the States west
of the Hudson were to be stationed in the Jerseys under command of General
Putnam. Having made this disposition of his forces, Washington left his
camp at Northcastle on the 10th of November and joined his favorite troops
under Lord Stirling at Peekskill. After posting a small corps here under the
command of General Heath for the defence of the Highlands, Washington,
on the 12th of November, with the remainder of his force, crossed the Hudson
at King's Ferry and moved into the Jerseys to a post opposite Fort Washington.
Feeling anxious about affairs at Fort Washington, he left the troops on the
route, and accompanied by Colonel Reed, struck a direct course for Fort Lee,
1 With this letter, he states that Captains Mr. William Harrison, in a letter to the
Scott and Bracco, Sergeants Westley, Belt and Council, dated 28th of November, says: " In
Hudson of his regiment were killed in the en- the battle of the White Plains, as in too many
gagement of the 28th, and Colonel Smaliwood, more of a similar nature, our generals showed
Lieutenants Waters and Goldsmith wounded. not equal judgment to that of the enemy. We
Thirty-eight privates were also killed and were badly disposed to receive the attack of the
wounded, making forty six in all. He adds that, enemy's small arms, and unfortunately much
including the independent companies, the regi- exposed to their artillery, which flanked us so
ment was reduced to 298 effective men, and they heavily as to render the post tenable but a short
were badly off for clothes, having lost the prin- time."
cipal part of their baggage.
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000294 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | REINFORCING FORT WASHINGTON. 263 November the latter writes: " Since the skirmish, the enemy have been exceedingly busy in erecting a breastwork on the eminence they took from us. Yesterday morning having got prepared to open it upon us, the general ordered us to abandon our front lines, which, in our present situation, .was rendered useless to us. The enemy immediately took possession of them, and judging that we were making a precipitate retreat, formed the line, and advanced upon us with a large column to bring on the attack, the artillery on each side keeping up a small fire, and they soon found their situation disagreeable, and as if ashamed of the attempt, they sneakingly skulked behind a wood, and retired unseen to the lines."x Washington, upon the retreat of his forces from Chatterton Hill, removed his army a short distance in the rear, and spent the night in throwing up redoubts, breastworks, etc. So formidable Avere these defences, that Howe delayed his attack and ordered up Lord Percy from Harlem with the fourth brigade and two battalions of the sixth. And as the enemy were endeavoring to outflank him on the right, Washington sent off General Beall with three of his Maryland regiments to secure Croler's Bridge over Croton River. On the 31st, Washington, perceiving that Howe had finished batteries and received re-inforcements, drew back his army to the high ground above White Plains, where at long cannon shot he was approachable from the front, and he held the passes in his rear. Howe did not attempt to dislodge him, but on the 5th of November, broke up his camp and marched to Dobbs' Ferry. Leaving General Lee in command of the eastern troops at Northcastle, Washington now sent Colonel Smallwood's regiment and General Beall's brigade of Marylanders, and the Virginia troops under Lord Stirling (who had been exchanged) to Peekskill, to cross the Hudson at King's Bridge, at the entrance of the Highlands. All the troops belonging to the States west of the Hudson were to be stationed in the Jerseys under command of General Putnam. Having made this disposition of his forces, Washington left his camp at Northcastle on the 10th of November and joined his favorite troops under Lord Stirling at Peekskill. After posting a small corps here under the command of General Heath for the defence of the Highlands, Washington, on the 12th of November, with the remainder of his force, crossed the Hudson at King's Ferry and moved into the Jerseys to a post opposite Fort Washington. Feeling anxious about affairs at Fort Washington, he left the troops on the route, and accompanied by Colonel Reed, struck a direct course for Fort Lee, 1 With this letter, he states that Captains Mr. William Harrison, in a letter to the Scott and Bracco, Sergeants Westley, Belt and Council, dated 28th of November, says: " In Hudson of his regiment were killed in the en- the battle of the White Plains, as in too many gagement of the 28th, and Colonel Smaliwood, more of a similar nature, our generals showed Lieutenants Waters and Goldsmith wounded. not equal judgment to that of the enemy. We Thirty-eight privates were also killed and were badly disposed to receive the attack of the wounded, making forty six in all. He adds that, enemy's small arms, and unfortunately much including the independent companies, the regi- exposed to their artillery, which flanked us so ment was reduced to 298 effective men, and they heavily as to render the post tenable but a short were badly off for clothes, having lost the prin- time." cipal part of their baggage. |
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