The New York herald., 1876-10-27
THE BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS.

ITS ANNIVERSARY TO DE CELEBRATED BY THE
wEsTcHEsTER HISTORICAL socIErY-MILI-
TARY AND CIVIC DIsPLAY-oRArroN nv HON.
CLARKsoN N. PoTTER-wHEN, WHERE AND
HOW IT OCCURRED.
The Historical Society OF wcstchester county has
determined take special notice Of the anniversary OF
the famous battle OF White Plains. fought during the
Revolutionary War; The occasion is TO be honored by
civic and military display and an address by Hon.
Clarkson n. Potter. Tho story OF tho battle which
was noted MS crisis In the war; is about follows-
Both armies White Plains on the morning
Of tho 2sth of October. The Americans were chiefly
behind their brcastworks, the village and the
British upon tho hills below, eastward OF the
Bronx Chattcrton's Hin, commanding cmlnence
on she opposite side OF the stream, was occu-
pied the evening OF the 2.th by Colonel
Hasiet with his Dclawares somo Maryland
troops and milita-in all about 1000 men.
Early the morning McDougal was ordered TO re-
iniorce Haslet with small corps and Two pieces Of
artillery, under the charge OF Captain Alexander Ham,
iton, and to take tho general command there Al ten
O'Clock the British army moved toward the village IN
two columns-the right commanded by General
Clinton, the lett by De Heister ard Sir William
Erskine-in all $4,000 strong. Howe was with the
second DIVISION and when near The village held a
council OF war horseback, which resulted in a
change the point of attack nclining to the LETT the
British placed fifteen or twenty pieces OF artillery upon
the slope southeast OF the railway station, and, under
OF their fire. constructed rude bridge over the
Bronx and attempted 10 cross anr ascend the steep
wooded heights to dislodpe the Americans from their
hastily constructed breastworks upon Chattcron's 8
Hill Hamilton had placed his two guns IN battery on
a rocky ledge, and these swept whole platoons from
the margin OF the hill they were attempting TO as
ccnd The British recoed Tell back TO their
artillery, and joined another division under General
Leslie consisting OF the Second British Brigade the
Hcssian q gIenaders, under Colonel Rail; battalion Of
Hcssian infantry and 80 cavalry, VINO then
crossing the Bronx quarter OF u mile below. There
the assaants joined, and tho whole force pushed up
the slopes and ravlnes alsng tho decv
ties OF Chattertons HILL Gaining u gentle slope
toward the top they cndeavOred 10 turn McDougal's
right flank. His ADVANCE under smailwood and Rit-
Zcma gannsly opposed them while slowly retrcaiiDg
toward tho Of the emncpce until the British
cavalry attacked the American militia on the extreme
men, consisting chiefly Of his own brigade and
haslcrs corps, sustained m obstinate conflict
for an hour. Twice tho British llgh. IN.
antry and cavalry rcpulscd, when an
attack upon his flank by Rail compelled NcDouga to
give way ana retreat to the intrenchments at White
Plans. This was douo In good order down the south
eastern side OF Chatertons H and across the Bronx,
near the present railway station under cover OF the
troops led by Putnam McDougal carried OF his
wounded and artillery and left the vctors in posses
sion of only the Uncomfortable breastworks upon the
hill. Tho militia, who were scattered among me
camp at sho village, and there the American army
rested almost undisurbcd until the evening OF the
night after tho battle, and the next day. after skir-
mish with Glover's brigade, they encampcd within
long cannon shot oil the American lines Awed
by the apparent strength OF Washingtons In
trenchments Howe dared not attack HIM. but
awaited the arrival Of Lord Percy, with four
battalons from Now York and two from
Manaroneck. The loss Of the Americans, from the
26th TO the 10th did not exceed probably 800 men in
killed. wounded and prisoners; that of the British
about the Carl Percy arrived on the evening OF
the Both and preparations wcro made 10 storm the
American works the next morning. A tempest OF
wind and rain arose at midnight and continued for
twenty hours All operations were delayed, and on
the night OF the 3lst, while the storm clouds were
break ing and the British host we're slumhcring Wash
ington withdrew and encamped upon the heights Of
North Castle, toward the Croton River, where hc had
erected strong breasworks along the hills which loom
up 100 feet around the waters Of the Bronx Howe
was ordered attack him thcre, and tho night OF
tho 4th OF November he rereated toward tho junction
OF the Hudson and Harlem rivers and encamped upon
tho heights Of Fordham, extending his left wing almost
TO Kingsbricgc.
The price Of the HERALD today and henceforh scilI